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Review

The Potential of Functional Hydrogels in Burns Treatment

by
Nathalie S. Ringrose
1,
Ricardo W. J. Balk
1,2,3,
Susan Gibbs
2,3,4,5,6,
Paul P. M. van Zuijlen
1,3,5,7,8 and
H. Ibrahim Korkmaz
1,2,3,4,5,7,*
1
Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Amsterdam UMC, Location VUmc, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2
Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, Location VUmc, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
3
Alliance of Dutch Burn Care, 1940 EB Beverwijk, The Netherlands
4
Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases (AII), Amsterdam UMC, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
5
Amsterdam Movement Sciences (AMS) Institute, Amsterdam UMC, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
6
Department of Oral Cell Biology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 LA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
7
Burn Center and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Red Cross Hospital, 1940 EB Beverwijk, The Netherlands
8
Paediatric Surgical Centre, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Gels 2025, 11(8), 595; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11080595 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 4 July 2025 / Revised: 25 July 2025 / Accepted: 28 July 2025 / Published: 31 July 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogel for Tissue Engineering and Biomedical Therapeutics)

Abstract

Burn injuries are complex and require effective wound management strategies. Traditional treatments, such as dermal templates, are limited by simplified extracellular matrix (ECM) composition (e.g., collagen-elastin or collagen-glycosaminoglycan), sheet-based formats, and frequent use of animal-derived materials. These limitations can reduce wound conformity, biocompatibility, and integration with host tissue. Functional hydrogels are being explored as alternatives due to properties such as high water content, biodegradability, adhesiveness, antimicrobial activity, and support for angiogenesis. Unlike standard templates, hydrogels can adapt to irregular wound shapes as in burn wounds and reach deeper tissue layers, supporting moisture retention, cell migration, and controlled drug delivery. These features may improve the wound environment and support healing in burns of varying severity. This review outlines recent developments in functional hydrogel technologies and compares them to current clinical treatments for burn care. Emphasis is placed on the structural and biological features that influence performance, including material composition, bioactivity, and integration capacity. Through an exploration of key mechanisms of action and clinical applications, this review highlights the benefits and challenges associated with hydrogel technology, providing insights into its future role in burn care.
Keywords: functional hydrogels; burn treatment; wound healing; skin regeneration; tissue engineering; biomaterials functional hydrogels; burn treatment; wound healing; skin regeneration; tissue engineering; biomaterials

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Ringrose, N.S.; Balk, R.W.J.; Gibbs, S.; Zuijlen, P.P.M.v.; Korkmaz, H.I. The Potential of Functional Hydrogels in Burns Treatment. Gels 2025, 11, 595. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11080595

AMA Style

Ringrose NS, Balk RWJ, Gibbs S, Zuijlen PPMv, Korkmaz HI. The Potential of Functional Hydrogels in Burns Treatment. Gels. 2025; 11(8):595. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11080595

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ringrose, Nathalie S., Ricardo W. J. Balk, Susan Gibbs, Paul P. M. van Zuijlen, and H. Ibrahim Korkmaz. 2025. "The Potential of Functional Hydrogels in Burns Treatment" Gels 11, no. 8: 595. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11080595

APA Style

Ringrose, N. S., Balk, R. W. J., Gibbs, S., Zuijlen, P. P. M. v., & Korkmaz, H. I. (2025). The Potential of Functional Hydrogels in Burns Treatment. Gels, 11(8), 595. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11080595

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