Recent advances in biopolymer-based smart hydrogel for wound healing

Wound emerge as biggest healthcare concern and a leading cause of death. Oral antibiotics are first line therapy used for wound treatment. However, large consumption of oral antibiotic drugs leads to antibiotic resistance. This condition makes demand for the development of novel wound dressing with highly efficient wound healing activity. Rapid wound healing, localized drug delivery, less adverse effects and cost-effective properties of hydrogel makes it most efficient among all other wound dressing. Few limitations such as poor mechanical strength and non-responding to external stimuli of hydrogel is overcome by use of smart hydrogel. Smart hydrogel releases drugs in controlled manner depending on continuous changing chemical and physical stimuli of wound. Smart hydrogel alters their water solubility, expansion capability and physical properties with respect to change in external stimuli, which makes it more effective in wound condition than any other conventional medical dressing. Biocompatibility, biodegradability and adaptable mechanical characteristics of natural biopolymer makes upper hands over synthetic biopolymer. Biopolymers are frequently used as precursors for smart hydrogels because of the unique and crucial qualities of cell adhesion, which accelerates the rate of cell proliferation and tissue regeneration activity and improves the rate of wound healing. This review is aimed to provide an insight to the recent advancement in biopolymer-based smart hydrogels and their applications in wound healing.