Topic Editors

School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan-si 38541, Republic of Korea
Digital Healthcare Research Center, Institute of Information Technology and Convergence, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea

Advanced Biomaterials for Wound Healing: From Design to Application

Abstract submission deadline
31 August 2027
Manuscript submission deadline
30 November 2027
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Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the era of rapid industrialization and the escalating human toll of conflicts, the surge in acute traumatic skin injuries has made wound healing and tissue regeneration urgent imperatives in modern healthcare. Wound care remains among the most dynamic and interdisciplinary research domains, drawing together biomaterial science, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and clinical medicine. The rising global burden of chronic wounds arising from non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and peripheral vascular diseases, alongside acute wounds resulting from trauma, burns, and infections complicated by antimicrobial resistance, continues to impose significant clinical and socioeconomic challenges worldwide. Addressing this burden demands sustained innovation in biomaterial-based therapeutic strategies capable of promoting rapid, safe, and functional tissue regeneration.

In recent times, there has been remarkable progress in the rational design of advanced biomaterials that actively modulate the wound microenvironment rather than functioning merely as passive protective barriers. A myriad array of polymeric and composite biomaterials is increasingly engineered to recapitulate the native extracellular matrix, providing mechanical support, controlled biodegradation, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity, immunomodulation, pro-angiogenic signaling, and spatiotemporally controlled delivery of therapeutic agents such as growth factors, stem cells, extracellular vesicles, and bioactive molecules. Concurrently, the integration of intelligent wound dressings with wearable biosensors, stimuli-responsive systems, artificial intelligence, and digital health technologies is paving new avenues toward personalized and precision wound management, allowing real-time monitoring of parameters such as pH, temperature, moisture, infection, and biomarker levels to guide adaptive, on-demand therapeutic responses. Despite these substantial advances, significant obstacles remain in translating the laboratory innovations into clinically approved and commercially viable wound care products. Persistent challenges related to biomaterial design optimization, scalable and reproducible manufacturing, sterilization compatibility, regulatory approval, long-term biocompatibility and safety, cost-effectiveness, and rigorous clinical validation continue to demand coordinated scientific innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration between materials scientists, engineers, clinicians, and regulatory bodies. This Special Issue aims to disseminate cutting-edge research that bridges fundamental biomaterial design with translational and clinical applications, offering a platform for innovative concepts and interdisciplinary perspectives that advance the field toward next-generation wound care solutions.  

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Advanced biomaterial design for wound healing;
  • Natural, synthetic, hybrid, and composite biomaterials;
  • Hydrogels, cryogels, aerogels, and injectable biomaterials;
  • Electrospun nanofibers and nanotechnology-based wound dressings;
  • Biomimetic extracellular matrix-inspired materials;
  • Smart and stimuli-responsive biomaterials;
  • Controlled and targeted drug delivery systems;
  • Antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and immunomodulatory biomaterials;
  • Three-dimensional printing and bioprinting technologies;
  • Tissue-engineered skin substitutes and skin equivalents;
  • Exosome and extracellular vesicle-based wound therapeutics;
  • Wearable biosensors and intelligent wound monitoring systems;
  • Artificial intelligence and computational biomaterial design;
  • Sustainable and environmentally responsible biomaterials.

Dr. Kannan Badri Narayanan
Dr. Sudip Mondal
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • advanced biomaterials
  • wound healing
  • tissue engineering
  • antimicrobial biomaterials
  • precision and personalized wound care
  • biomaterial design
  • smart wound dressing biomaterials
  • 3D/4D bioprinting
  • bioactive materials
  • stem cell-based therapies
  • drug delivery systems

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Biomimetics
biomimetics
4.2 6.2 2016 13.5 Days CHF 2200 Submit
Biomolecules
biomolecules
5.6 9.3 2011 16.6 Days CHF 2700 Submit
Gels
gels
6.4 10.3 2015 13 Days CHF 2100 Submit
Journal of Functional Biomaterials
jfb
5.9 9.7 2010 15.1 Days CHF 2700 Submit
Pharmaceutics
pharmaceutics
6.9 12.5 2009 16.3 Days CHF 2900 Submit
Polymers
polymers
5.8 11.0 2009 13.4 Days CHF 2700 Submit

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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24 pages, 10400 KB  
Article
Development and Characterization of a Hydrogel Incorporating Protamine–Hyaluronic Acid Nanoparticles Co-Loaded with Disulfiram and Coumarin for Diabetic Wound Healing
by Zainab Lafi, Mohammad I. A. Ahmad, Shreen Deeb Nusair, Razan Madi, Alaa Al-Sanabrah, Somaya Ahmad, Qout Qtashat, Maisrh Ali Alrubaye and Sara Yousef Asha
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(9), 1180; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18091180 (registering DOI) - 18 Sep 2026
Abstract
Background: Diabetes-associated wound healing is frequently impaired due to persistent hyperglycemia, which causes vascular dysfunction and neuropathy, thereby delaying tissue repair. Objectives: In this study, hyaluronic acid and protamine nanoparticles (HA-PRO-NPs) were developed and optimized to encapsulate disulfiram (DSF) and coumarin (COM) for [...] Read more.
Background: Diabetes-associated wound healing is frequently impaired due to persistent hyperglycemia, which causes vascular dysfunction and neuropathy, thereby delaying tissue repair. Objectives: In this study, hyaluronic acid and protamine nanoparticles (HA-PRO-NPs) were developed and optimized to encapsulate disulfiram (DSF) and coumarin (COM) for potential application in diabetic wound healing. Methods: The nanoparticles were prepared using a simple ionic interaction method and characterized for their particle size, zeta potential, morphology and encapsulation efficiency. Then, HA-PRO-NPs were incorporated into a hydrogel that contains carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and propylene glycol (PG). The hydrogel formulations were evaluated for swelling behavior, spreadability and DSF and COM release kinetics. Results: The prepared formulations were safe against human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), with cell viability remaining above 70% over the concentration ranges tested. In the scratch assay, HA-PROT-DSF-COM-NPs improved HDF migration, achieving approximately 81% wound closure. An in vivo study was conducted using streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Topical application of Gel-HA-PROT-DSF-COM-NPs promoted wound closure. The study monitored wound contraction on Days 0, 3, 7, and 12. By Day 12, topical administration of the dual-cargo system (Gel-HA-PROT-DSF-COM NPs, n = 6) achieved 78.2 ± 4.1% wound closure. This was significantly higher than the single-drug formulation (Gel-HA-PROT-DSF-NPs: 59.5 ± 4.8%) and the untreated Control (Diabetic) group (55.4 ± 5.2%, p < 0.01), while the non-diabetic Control group (non diabetic) reached 97.6 ± 3.5% closure. Semi-quantitative histopathological evaluation showed that the Gel-HA-PROT-DSF-COM NPs achieved a healing score of 4/5, characterized by optimized epidermal regeneration with preserved adnexal structures and moderate dermal remodeling. Conclusions: In conclusion, Gel-HA-PROT-DSF-COM-NPs demonstrated promising potential as a topical formulation for improving wound healing under diabetic conditions. Full article
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