Nanotechnology Applications in Wound Healing

Nanotechnology offers a suite of novel strategies to accelerate tissue repair, prevent infection and modulate inflammation in wound care. At its core, the approach employs materials and devices at the scale of 1–100 nm, taking advantage of unique surface area-to-volume ratios, tunable physicochemical properties and inherent biological activity. Metal nanoparticles such as silver, gold and zinc provide sustained antimicrobial action, while polymeric nanofibres and hydrogel matrices serve as scaffolds to support cell migration, proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition. More recently, biomimetic nanozymes and exosome-based nanotherapeutics have emerged to orchestrate reactive oxygen species generation, immunomodulation and angiogenesis. These technologies are underpinned by bespoke fabrication methods – including green synthesis and stimuli-responsive gelation – that align biocompatibility with functional performance. The global significance of this field lies in its capacity to address chronic and infected wounds, which impose a heavy burden on healthcare systems and patient quality of life. Interdisciplinary research across materials science, cell biology and clinical medicine continues to drive translation of nanotechnology platforms towards scalable, cost-effective and regulatorily compliant wound-healing products.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Hybrid scaffolds integrating silver nanoparticles within collagen–chitosan matrices have been shown to accelerate wound closure by promoting fibroblast migration and modulating macrophage activation. Detailed in vitro studies reveal enhanced α-smooth muscle actin expression, while in vivo experiments demonstrate bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects that restore dermal architecture resembling native skin. In parallel, thermoresponsive polymer gels loaded with gold nanoparticles have been engineered to undergo sol–gel transitions at physiological temperatures. These formulations exhibit strong bioadhesive properties and controlled nanoparticle release, resulting in potent antibacterial activity against common burn pathogens and markedly improved tissue regeneration in infected wound models.

Nanotechnology Applications in Wound Healing publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanotechnology applications in wound healing across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Nanoparticle: A particle with at least one dimension between 1 and 100 nanometres, often exhibiting distinct chemical or physical properties from bulk material.

Nanozyme: A nanomaterial exhibiting enzyme-like catalytic activity, used to generate reactive species or modulate biochemical pathways.

Hydrogel: A three-dimensional, water-swollen polymer network that can provide a moist environment and controlled release of therapeutic agents.

Scaffold: A porous structure designed to mimic the extracellular matrix, supporting cell adhesion, migration and tissue formation.

Exosome: A cell-derived extracellular vesicle (30–150 nm) that transports proteins, lipids and nucleic acids for intercellular communication.

Angiogenesis: The physiological process by which new blood vessels form from existing vasculature, crucial for supplying nutrients during wound repair.

References

1. Silver nanoparticle loaded collagen/chitosan scaffolds promote wound healing via regulating fibroblast migration and macrophage activation. Scientific Reports (2017).
2. Thermoresponsive gels containing gold nanoparticles as smart antibacterial and wound healing agents. Scientific Reports (2018).
3. Emerging antibacterial nanozymes for wound healing. Smart Medicine (2023).
4. Plant-Derived Exosomes as Novel Nanotherapeutics Contrive Glycolysis Reprogramming-Mediated Angiogenesis for Diabetic Ulcer Healing. Biomaterials Research (2024).
5. Green Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles with Curcumin or Açai in the Tissue Repair of Palatal Wounds. Antioxidants (2023).