Bioactive Hydroxyapatite–Collagen Composite Dressings for Wound Regeneration: Advances in Fabrication, Functionalisation and Antimicrobial Strategies

Chronic and complex wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, burns and post-surgical defects, remain difficult to manage due to persistent inflammation, impaired angiogenesis, microbial colonisation and insufficient extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Conventional dressings provide protection, but they do not supply the necessary biochemical and structural signals for effective tissue repair. This review examines recent advances in hydroxyapatite–collagen (HAp–Col) composite dressings, which combine the architecture of collagen with the mechanical reinforcement and ionic bioactivity of hydroxyapatite. Analysis of the literature indicates that in situ and biomimetic mineralization, freeze-drying, electrospinning, hydrogel and film pro-cessing, and emerging 3D printing approaches enable precise control of pore structure, mineral dispersion, and degradation behavior. Antimicrobial functionalization re-mains critical: metallic ions and locally delivered antibiotics offer robust early anti-bacterial activity, while plant-derived essential oils (EOs) provide broad-spectrum an-timicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects with reduced risk of resistance. Preclinical studies consistently report enhanced epithelialization, improved collagen deposition and reduced bacterial burden in HAp–Col systems; however, translation is limited by formulation variability, sterilisation sensitivity and the lack of standardised clinical trials. Overall, HAp–Col composites represent a versatile framework for next-generation wound dressings that can address both regenerative and antimicrobial requirements.