Advanced drug delivery systems for wound healing and tissue regeneration: Current progress and translational perspectives (Review)

Wound healing is a multifaceted and tightly regulated process involving four sequential, yet overlapping phases: Hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodeling. Chronic wounds and extensive tissue injuries often remain unresolved due to the limitations of conventional therapies, including poor drug bioavailability, inadequate targeting and the lack of sustained release. Recent advances in drug delivery technologies have significantly improved therapeutic outcomes by enabling the precise, localized and temporally controlled delivery of regenerative agents. The present review explores the latest innovations in drug delivery systems, including nanoparticles, hydrogels, microneedles, exosomes and 3D‑printed scaffolds, that facilitate enhanced tissue regeneration. These systems improve the delivery of bioactive molecules, including growth factors, stem cells and small‑molecule drugs, thereby promoting angiogenesis, cellular proliferation and extracellular matrix remodeling, while reducing inflammation and the risk of infection. Furthermore, stimuli‑responsive delivery platforms that react to pH, enzymatic activity, or oxidative stress provide dynamic regulation of the wound microenvironment. The integration of innovative biomaterials with biologics and engineering solutions marks a transformative step in regenerative wound care. The present review provides a comprehensive discussion of emerging drug delivery strategies that hold promise for accelerating and managing wound healing.