From Self Assembly to Skin Repair: The Versatility of Janus Dendrimer Hydrogels

Sami Nummelin – Senior Researcher, BioHybrid Materials, Aalto University; Mauri Kostiainen – Full Professor, BioHybrid Materials, Aalto University; Vera Moura – Director, Basinnov Life Sciences; Anthony Burke – Researcher/ Associate Professor, Coimbra Chemistry Centre / Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra; Luis Bimbo – Assistant Professor, Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology - Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and BiotechnologyCentre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology / Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra

Introduction: Chronic wounds impose major healthcare burdens due to impaired healing mechanisms, infection risk, and reduced quality of life [1]. Biofilms further hinder repair by aggravating inflammation and disrupting healing mediators [2,3]. Enhancing antimicrobial protection while promoting regeneration is therefore pivotal. Supramolecular hydrogels, like amphiphilic dendrimers, offer promising wound‑treatment platforms through tuneable mechanics, ECM‑like architecture, and capacity for localized drug delivery [4]. Investigating the relationship between molecular design, synthesis, hydrogel properties, and biological performance, is crucial to attain robust clinical value.