Engineering in NIR‐responsive photothermal materials and their application in wound healing administration

Abstract Wound healing is a complex process that involves multiple stages and is susceptible to various challenges, such as infection, insufficient blood flow, and the body's inadequate response to the healing process, which can be life‐threatening for the patient. In the current medical landscape, traditional treatments often struggle to meet the high standards of modern medical care. Therefore, it is crucial to actively explore and develop new drugs or advanced technologies that can enhance the healing of bacterially infected wounds. In recent years, several physical methods that effectively accelerate wound healing have garnered widespread attention and interest. Among these, Photothermal therapy (PTT) has been extensively utilized in the treatment of bacterial infections and wound healing due to its non‐invasive, low toxicity, and ease of use. The photothermal agents (PTAs) serve as the core material in PTT, and their efficacy is significantly influenced by the specific PTAs employed. Selecting the appropriate PTAs is essential for achieving the desired therapeutic effect. This treatment relies on the PTAs's ability to efficiently convert specific wavelengths of light energy into heat upon absorption, thereby generating a thermal effect at the wound site. Consequently, the properties of the PTAs, including photothermal conversion efficiency, biocompatibility, and stability within the organism, are critical factors that determine the therapeutic outcome. This review introduces organic, inorganic, and organic‐inorganic hybrid PTAs for PTT in wound healing, highlighting their main properties and applications in wound management in recent years. Finally, we briefly discuss the limitations and prospects of this field.