Development of Bioactive Chitosan-Based Structures for Diabetic Wound Healing

Mariana Oliveira – Master Student, UCIBIO/i4HB, NOVA University Lisbon; Diana Araújo – Postdoctoral Researcher, UCIBIO/i4HB, NOVA University Lisbon; Patrícia Concórdio-Reis – Postdoctoral Researcher, UCIBIO/i4HB, NOVA University Lisbon; Tânia Vieira – Postdoctoral Researcher, CENIMAT/i3N, NOVA University Lisbon; Jorge Silva – Associate Professor, CENIMAT/i3N, NOVA University Lisbon; Filomena Freitas – Assistant Professor, UCIBIO/i4HB, NOVA University Lisbon

Introduction:

Diabetic wounds (DW) are a common complication of diabetes mellitus affecting over 20% of patients (1). DW show impaired healing due to a prolonged inflammatory phase associated with hyperglycaemia, high oxidative stress, and an increased risk of bacterial infections. This complex microenvironment often prevents conventional treatments from achieving complete wound closure, resulting in recurrent hospitalizations and limb amputations (2). Therefore, there is a significant need to develop dressings with antibacterial, moisturizing, and antioxidant properties to accelerate DW healing (3).