Scoping Review of Hydrogel Therapies in the Treatment of Diabetic Chronic Wounds

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Chronic diabetic wounds are a significant issue that can be treated with topical hydrogel therapies. The aim of this study was to review the different compositions of hydrogel that have been developed and analyze their clinical relevance in the treatment of chronic diabetic wounds. Methods We conducted a scoping review in which twelve articles were selected for review after applying relevant inclusion and exclusion criteria using a two-reviewer strategy. Data extracted from these studies was used to answer the following research question: What is the composition of hydrogels used to treat chronic diabetic wounds and how effective are they? Results We analyzed five randomized controlled trials, two retrospective studies, three reviews, and two case reports. Hydrogel compositions discussed included mesenchymal stem cell sheets, carbomer, collagen, and alginate hydrogels, as well as hydrogels embedded with platelet-derived growth factor. Synthetic hydrogels, largely composed of carbomers, were found to have high levels of evidence supporting their wound healing properties, though few articles described their routine use in a clinical setting. Collagen hydrogels dominate the present-day hydrogel market in the clinical treatment of chronic diabetic wounds. The augmentation of hydrogels with therapeutic biomaterials is a new field of hydrogel research, with studies demonstrating prom

Evidence level

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

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