Research progress on antimicrobial hydrogel dressing for wound repair

•Delveing into cross-linking techniques, hydrogel material design, and selection.•Systematically summarizing the properties, advantages, and drawbacks of hydrogels. Hydrogels possess excellent biocompatibility and moisturizing properties and have been extensively studied for their ability to assist tissue repair in traumatic wound therapy. Antimicrobial dressing hydrogels are recognized for their potent antimicrobial properties and therapeutic benefits. Utilizing techniques like self-assembly, modification, and doping, numerous advanced antibacterial hydrogels have been developed, showcasing effective antibacterial performance based on distinct mechanisms. This study examines the preparation methods, antibacterial mechanisms, and effects of antibacterial dressing hydrogels, summarizing the latest research progress. It particularly elucidates the classification of cross-linking methods of antibacterial hydrogels and the selection and design of antibacterial components. By systematically outlining the properties of hydrogels across various antibacterial mechanisms, our intention is to provide valuable insights for the design of antibacterial hydrogel dressings and anticipate their potential in biomedical research and applications.