Engineering Pro-Regenerative Hydrogels for Scarless Wound Healing

The document from April 16, 2018, reviews the potential of pro-regenerative hydrogels in achieving scarless wound healing, a goal not yet fully realized in clinical therapy. It explains that deep dermal wounds often result in scarring and loss of skin functions, including hair follicles, and that current treatments are costly and not completely effective. The review discusses the complex healing process, the role of inflammation, macrophages, angiogenesis, adipocytes, and mechanical forces, and the design of hydrogels that mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM). It emphasizes the importance of hydrogel properties like biocompatibility, degradation, immune response modulation, hydration, and pore structure. The document reports that dextran hydrogel scaffolds showed promising results in reducing inflammation and promoting complete skin regeneration with hair regrowth in pre-existing scars in a porcine model. It concludes that future hydrogel designs must consider immune responses and provide cues for cell adhesion, migration, and vascularization, suggesting that advancements in this field could lead to more effective treatments for deep dermal injuries and scar reduction.