A Review on Oxygen-Generating Hydrogel Patches and Other Related Oxygen-Based Technologies for Accelerated Diabetic Wound Closure

Wound healing can be compromised in a diabetic environment due to chronic hypoxia, lack of neo angiogenesis, inflammation and oxidative stress. Oxygen is a key component in many biological processes, such as collagen synthesis, anti-infective and neo angiogenesis. Oxygen releasing hydrogels have shown great potential at increasing the local oxygen levels. This review discusses oxygen releasing mechanisms, hydrogel design, materials and potential. This review focuses on the oxygen releasing mechanism by using peroxide based materials such as calcium peroxide. There are many other materials that can be used such as microneedles, nanofibers, catalytic biomaterials and photosynthesis. Many multifunctional platforms have shown great potential to deliver oxygen to the site, provide anti-infective properties, prevent biofilms and control reactive oxygen species. From pre-clinical studies it has been found that these multifunctional platforms can stimulate cellular activity, neo angiogenesis and extracellular matrix. Challenges were highlighted throughout this review such as controlling the oxygen release, cytotoxicity and stability. Research should focus on optimizing the oxygen release, dosing and biocompatibility. Overall oxygen releasing hydrogels have great potential to improve wound healing in a diabetic environment but further validation would be required to ensure they are safe and effective.