Antimicrobial Hydrogel for Diabetic Wound Treatment

Diabetic wound infections pose a significant clinical challenge. Chronic wounds associated with diabetes mellitus exhibit delayed healing and, if not managed appropriately, are highly susceptible to infections that may lead to life-threatening complications in severe cases. Antimicrobial hydrogels have become promising materials for diabetic wound management due to their moisture retention, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and intrinsic antimicrobial properties. As wound dressings, they offer advantages such as wound exudate absorption, controlled drug 2release, and minimized toxic side effects. By incorporating antimicrobial components (e.g. chitosan (CS), polyethylenimine (PEI)) or serving as carriers for antimicrobial agents (e.g. antibiotics, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), inorganic metal materials, and carbon nanomaterials (CNMs)), antimicrobial hydrogels effectively inhibit microbial growth. With ongoing research, the development of intelligent, multifunctional, and highly responsive antimicrobial hydrogels continues to advance, offering more precise and rapid therapeutic solutions for diabetic wounds. This review first examines the impact of infection on diabetic wound healing, followed by an overview of the definition and classification of hydrogels. Subsequently, various antimicrobial hydrogels and their mechanisms of action are summarized, along with an exploration of their fabrication methods. By analyzing recent advancements in antimicrobial hydrogel research, this review aims to provide insights into future research directions and potential clinical applications for diabetic wound management.