A comprehensive review on the role of nanomedicine in chronic wound healing

Abstract

Chronic wounds remain a major global healthcare challenge due to delayed healing, frequent recurrence, high treatment costs, and reduced quality of life. Conditions such as diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, pressure ulcers, and burn wounds often fail to heal effectively with conventional therapies, primarily due to poor drug penetration, inadequate local drug retention, persistent inflammation, infection, and impaired tissue regeneration. Nanomedicine has emerged as a promising approach to overcome these limitations by enabling targeted, controlled, and sustained delivery of therapeutic agents directly to the wound site. Nanocarrier-based systems improve antimicrobial efficacy, promote angiogenesis, regulate inflammation, support extracellular matrix remodeling, and enhance re-epithelialization, thereby accelerating the healing process and reducing scar formation. Preclinical and clinical studies demonstrate improved healing outcomes, reduced infection rates, and better patient compliance with nanomedicine-based wound care strategies compared to traditional treatments. Despite these advantages, challenges such as high production costs, limited largescale clinical evidence, long-term safety concerns, and complex regulatory pathways remain. This review focuses on the role of nanomedicine in addressing the key pathophysiological barriers of chronic wound healing and discusses its translational potential in advancing regenerative and precision-based wound management.