The process of wound healing is intricate and regulated by a network of cellular, molecular, and biochemical pathways. Acute wounds progress via distinct phases of hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Chronic wounds frequently cease to heal and exhibit resistance to conventional therapies. These types of injuries are frequently attributed to diabetes, infection, or senescence. Existing therapies are constrained due to their ineffectiveness against bacteria, inability to promote regeneration, and inadequate control over medication release. Nanotechnology presents novel methods to overcome these challenges by providing multifunctional platforms that enable biological repair and medicinal delivery. Nanoparticles, which combat germs and modulate the immune system, in addition to being intelligent carriers that react to pH, oxidative stress, or enzymatic activity, provide targeted and adaptive wound therapy. Nanocomposite hydrogels are particularly advantageous as biointeractive dressings due to their ability to maintain wound moisture while facilitating regulated drug delivery. Recent advancements indicate their potential to aid in tissue regeneration, enhance therapy precision, and address issues related to safety and translation. Nanotechnology-based approaches, especially smart hydrogels, give significant promise to transform the future of wound care due to their flexibility, adaptability, and efficiency.

Clays, historically employed in traditional medical practices, have recently gained prominence within contemporary biomedical science, especially in the context of wound healing, due to advancements in nanotechnology and materials science. This review article investigates the physicochemical characteristics, biological processes, and therapeutic functions of clay materials—including bentonite, halloysite nanotubes, palygorskite, sepiolite, and synthetic clays like Laponite—in diverse wound-healing applications. These materials play a crucial role in the wound-healing process, including stopping bleeding, controlling inflammation, protecting against infection, and rebuilding tissue. They work through both passive and active methods. The layered or fibrous structure of these materials allows for efficient drug loading, controlled release, and mechanical support when used in hydrogels, films, and advanced drug delivery systems. Preclinical and initial clinical investigations have substantiated the biocompatibility, antimicrobial properties, and regenerative capabilities of these systems, although they have also revealed several challenges concerning toxicity, regulatory categorization, and standardization. Consequently, clay-based systems present a potentially valuable multifunctional platform for advancing next-generation wound-treatment therapies, necessitating additional translational and clinical research.