Functional Biomaterials-Wound Healing Hydrogels

Dear Colleagues,

There is a need for effective wound healing through rapid wound closure, reduction of scar formation, and acceleration of angiogenesis. Among various materials, hydrogels exhibit advantages such as high biocompatibility, structural similarity to the extracellular matrix (ECM), and high water content; they thus provide a moist environment to aid in wound repair. Hydrogels also absorb exudates from wounds and possess high permeability for oxygen, nutrients, and other water-soluble metabolites. These attractive properties of hydrogels initiated active development of novel wound healing products. Despite these advantages in facilitating wound healing, hydrogels have limits in reduced vascularization capability, low wound closure rates, poor mechanical properties, and increased production costs. Significant research efforts are being directed to the development of functional hydrogels by the modification and use of composites and conjugating bioactive agents in order to overcome these limitations. We are interested in articles that are related in developing functionalized hydrogel materials for wound healing and skin regeneration. Potential topics include, but not limited to the following:

• Strategy and mechanism of functionalization of hydrogels for wound healing and skin regeneration
• Synthesis, fabrication and characterization of hydrogels
• Quantitative and qualitative analysis of wound healing efficacy and safety in vitro, in vivo
• In vivo and in vitro model for safety and efficacy of wound healing hydrogels
• Clinical evaluation and commercialization of hydrogel based medical devices for wound care.

Prof. Jeong Ok Lim
Guest Editor

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