Physical crosslinking of hydrogels: The potential of dynamic and reversible bonds in burn care

Burns are among the most common skin injuries worldwide, often requiring prolonged or lifelong medical intervention and imposing significant burdens on healthcare systems. Traditional treatments frequently fail to meet the multifaceted demands of burn care, underscoring the need for advanced therapeutic approaches. Hydrogel dressings have emerged as a promising alternative due to their inherent ability to holistically support wound healing. Their properties are determined by the underlying crosslinking mechanism. Reversible dynamic physical bonds confer key features, including self-healing and tissue adhesiveness, which allow hydrogels to recover from structural damage and extend their lifespan, making them especially effective for chronic wounds. Their conformability ensures consistent wound coverage, even on irregular contours or in high-mobility body parts, while tunable adhesion strength guarantees secure attachment to wound surfaces with painless removal, thereby enhancing patient comfort. This review explores the potential of hydrogel dressings in burn care, with a detailed focus on key physical crosslinking interactions, including hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, ionic interactions, and metal-ligand coordination. It also examines strategies for obtaining physically crosslinked hydrogels, emphasizing the role of temperature, pH, and ionic strength variations in their formation. This manuscript aims to unlock new possibilities in personalized healthcare and advanced burn wound management by providing valuable insights for future research focused on integrating innovative manufacturing technologies and smart tools. Serving as a foundation for further studies, this review envisions a future where hydrogel-based dressings enhance patient outcomes, contribute to faster and more effective burn wound healing, and drive advancements in regenerative medicine. • Physical bonds are affected by variables like temperature, pH, and ionic strength. • Dynamic reversible bonds impart adhesion and self-healing properties to hydrogels. • Advanced crosslinking strategies drive hydrogel adaptability for complex burns. • Tunable physical bonds in hydrogels provide custom properties for enhanced healing. • Smart hydrogel dressings could transform burn recovery with real-time monitoring.