Carbon Dots-Based Nanomaterials for Chronic Wound Healing: From Multifunctional Mechanisms to Smart Dressings and Tissue Regeneration.

Abstract

Chronic wounds represent a major clinical challenge due to persistent infection, excessive inflammation, impaired angiogenesis, and defective tissue remodeling. Carbon dots (CDs)-based nanomaterials are promising candidates for addressing these issues, owing to their unique physicochemical properties, tunable surface functionalities, and excellent enzyme-mimetic activities. This review presents a comprehensive overview of recent advances in CDs-based nanomaterials for chronic wound repair under a framework from fundamental principles to translational applications. We first outline the pathophysiological features of chronic wounds and summarize the classification, synthesis, and functionalization strategies of CDs. We then elaborate on the rational design of CDs-based nanomaterials, including stimuli-responsive systems, nanozymes, and multifunctional composites. The multilevel therapeutic mechanisms are dissected, covering infection control, selective ROS scavenging, inflammatory modulation, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix remodeling. We further highlight applications in real-time wound monitoring, dynamic phase-adaptive therapy, and smart dressings. Key challenges remain in scalable synthesis, long-term biosafety, and clinical translation. Future efforts should focus on green synthesis, engineering optimization, and AI-assisted development to link laboratory research with clinical practice. This review provides a systematic roadmap for the design and translation of next-generation CDs-based wound therapies.