Published in Current Reviews in Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, a new review finds that cannabidiol (CBD) may have strong potential in treating chronic wounds when delivered through advanced hydrogel systems designed to improve healing.

Researchers from Amity University examined how CBD’s anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial and tissue-repair properties could be harnessed more effectively through “smart” hydrogels—engineered materials designed to respond to changes in the wound environment. Chronic wounds, including diabetic ulcers and burns, remain a major global health issue, often resistant to standard treatments.

According to the review, CBD interacts with several key biological pathways involved in healing, including inflammation, oxidative stress, fibroblast activity and angiogenesis. These effects make it a strong candidate for supporting tissue regeneration, but its clinical use has been limited by issues such as poor solubility and instability.

To address these limitations, researchers explored hydrogels that can respond to factors like pH, temperature, enzymes and redox conditions. These materials are designed to deliver CBD directly to the wound site in a controlled, sustained manner. The review details how properties such as biocompatibility, adjustable degradation rates and structural similarity to natural tissue can enhance healing outcomes.

Preclinical findings cited in the review suggest CBD-loaded hydrogels may improve healing across a range of wound types, including diabetic and infected wounds. These systems appear to influence key cellular processes such as immune response, skin cell regeneration and extracellular matrix remodeling.

The review also outlines challenges that remain before widespread clinical use, including scalability, regulatory hurdles and long-term safety considerations. Still, researchers say the approach could represent a significant advancement in wound care, particularly as future technologies like AI-assisted design and personalized treatment systems continue to develop.