Would management presents a significant therapeutic challenge for the medical community due to the complex process of would healing. Various factors can contribute to the progression of acute wounds into chronic conditions. For instance, acute wounds typically heal through the standard phases of wound healing, whereas chronic wounds are physiologically impaired, with microbial colonization being a primary concern. Infected wounds can lead to severe complications, such as sepsis, creating additional challenges for clinicians in wound assessment and therapy.

The current standard therapeutic approach centers on the application of wound dressings, typically used following comprehensive examination and debridement. These dressings frequently incorporate therapeutic agents, including antimicrobials, growth factors, anti-inflammatory compounds, stem cells, and exosomes. Recent advancements in the field have enabled the development of innovative drug delivery systems—such as hydrogels, nano- and microparticles, nanofibrous scaffolds, and microneedle patches—that can effectively deliver these agents, either singly or in combination.

The medical and scientific communities are increasingly focused on developing advanced drug delivery systems to enhance chronic wound treatment. Despite progress in understanding the pathophysiology of chronic wounds and improving wound dressing technology, significant challenges remain.

Innovative biomaterials, when used as matrices for wound healing in conjunction with advanced drug delivery systems, have the potential to transform wound management. Biopolymers—biodegradable polymers produced by living microorganisms, such as chitosan, gelatin, cellulose, hyaluronic acid, poly(lactic acid), and poly(ε-caprolactone)—have garnered significant attention for their use in wound dressings. These materials can form sponges, films, fibers, and hydrogels, offering properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, efficient oxygen permeation, and the ability to replicate the structural and biological characteristics of the skin's extracellular matrix. These attributes are driving significant advancements in therapeutic outcomes for modern wound dressings.

To gather further insights into advanced wound management, this Special Issue focuses on the development and analysis of state-of-the-art wound dressings. We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Nanotechnology-based carriers (e.g., nanoparticles, nanogels, microparticles, microemulsions)
• Microneedle-based patches, electrospun fibrous matrices, hydrogels, and smart dressings (e.g., materials responsive to environmental changes)
• Fabrication and analysis methods of wound dressings
• Biotechnology-based wound care products, such as peptides, proteins, and human amniotic membranes
• Innovations in 3D-printing technology for wound care applications.

This Special Issue aims not only to advance the technological frontiers of wound management but also to facilitate the integration of these innovations into practical, effective treatments for chronic and acute wounds.

Article types and fees

This Special Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Special Issue description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Special Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Special Issue description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: wound, wound healing, wound management, acute wounds, chronic wounds, drug delivery, biomaterial strategies