TRADITIONAL PLANTS POLYPHYTOCHEMICAL-LOADED MULTIFUNCTIONAL HYDROGELS AGAINST INFECTED CUTANEOUS WOUNDS

The presence of biofilm in cutaneous wounds, particularly when the disease is chronic like diabetes, is a huge challenge since bacterial biofilms are persistent and resistant to eliminate the wound healing process. Wound care has become interested in traditional plant-based polyphenolic compounds with the known antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The incorporation of these plant-derived bioactive compounds with the current hydrogel technology to achieve the desired results is through polyphytochemical-loaded multifunctional hydrogels, which can serve as an effective means of treating biofilm-infected wounds. These hydrogels take advantage of therapeutic properties of polyphenols, including quercetin, curcumin and tannin, which have a high anti-microbial activity against common biofilm-forming pathogens, like Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. Its hydrogels offer a humid, safeguarding presentation that enhances the healing of tissues through the support of collagen and epithelialization growth and angiogenesis. Moreover, they have regulated delivery systems that provide prolonged delivery of bioactive compounds, which prevent infection, inflammation and oxidative stress. The article is a review of polyphytochemical-loaded multifunctional hydrogels in the management of biofilm-infected cutaneous wounds, including its potential to help solve the multifaceted issues of a chronic wound healing condition. It emphasizes an idea of synergistic action of plant polyphenols and hydrogel systems and also addresses the possibility of optimization of these hydrogel systems in order to enhance their clinical performance. It is important that further in the future, responsive, smart hydrogel systems that respond to the dynamic wound environment be developed in order to hone the efficacy of wound healing therapies in diabetic and other chronic wound patients.