Deep eutectic solvents for wound healing: a leading-edge trajectory

It is relatively new in wound healing science to use a deep eutectic solvent (DES) as a drug delivery approach for active pharmaceuticals. DESs are sustainable eutectic mixtures typically designed through coupling a hydrogen bond donor and acceptor, resulting in strong non-covalent intermolecular networks and a significant depression in the melting point. In light of their low volatility, low inflammability, ease of preparation, and typically low cost of compounds, DESs particularly natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) have proven to be an emerging alternative to orthodox organic solvents and ionic liquids (ILs). Recent years have seen an increase in the deployment of DESs in pharmaceutical and chemical processes. The wound-healing potential of these bio-based media is, however, not well documented. Consequently, we aimed to comprehensively summarize DES abilities to treat wounds as a leading-edge process including an overview of DESs and the history and mechanism of wound healing, a discussion of naked DESs for wound healing (DES without any added ingredients or drugs), and wound healing materials based on DESs. Furthermore, the deployment of DESs as media for preparing materials for wound healing or as an expedient is deeply delved into. Finally, the challenges, opportunities, and future research trends will be elaborated on.