Emerging biomaterials for next-generation wound healing: From infection control to tissue regeneration

Wound healing is a multifactorial biological process that regenerates damaged tissues through a series of molecular and cellular events in a coordinated manner. An interruption in this cascade can lead to impaired healing, especially in diabetic complications, where effective treatment is crucial for controlling infections and promoting tissue regeneration. Recent advances in bioengineering and digital health have catalyzed the development of next-generation wound therapies capable of actively modulating the wound microenvironment, promoting regeneration, and enabling real-time clinical assessment. This review summarizes the fundamentals of physiological wound healing and highlights the significant developments in biomaterial dressings and scaffolds, 3D bioprinting, as well as underlining the potential of photonic and bioelectric modalities in the treatment of chronic wounds. Emerging regenerative technologies based on stem cell therapies and gene delivery, along with recent progress in integrating artificial intelligence and imaging for personalized wound monitoring, receive special consideration. We further elaborate on various nanomaterial-based approaches, including metallic, polymeric, nanozymes, and near-infrared-responsive nanosystems for tissue regeneration. Finally, we discuss the clinical applicability of these techniques and identify significant challenges, proposing a future research direction to transform wound care from passive coverage to dynamic, theranostic, and patient-tailored treatment paradigms.