Immunomodulatory Hydrogels: Advanced Regenerative Tools for Diabetic Foot Ulcer

摘要

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the most common complications of diabetes,bringing physical and mental challenges for patients due to the lack ofefficient curative therapy. Despite considerable advances in pharmacologicaland surgical approaches, clinical trials for DFU patients remain disappointingdue to the local overactive and excessive inflammation. Immunomodulatoryhydrogels has significant advantages to overcome the clinical challenge of DFUstherapy. Here, recent fabrication and regenerative advances in the utilization offunctional hydrogels for altering the immune microenvironment of DFUs arecomprehensively reviewed. The pathological features and the healing processesof DFUs, followed by summarizing the physicochemical properties essential forthe design of regenerative hydrogels for immunomodulation in DFUs, are brieflyintroduced. Then, the potential immuno-therapeutic modalities of hydrogelsand emerging trends used to treat DFUs via multitherapeutic approaches andenhanced efficacy and safety are discussed. Taken together, by linking the structuralproperties of hydrogels to their functions in DFU therapy with a particularfocus on immunomodulatory stimuli, this review can promote further advancesin designing advanced hydrogels for DFUs, resulting in improved diabeticwound repair through translation into clinical setting in the near future.