Development and Characterization of a Novel Hydrogel for the Decontaminating of Radionuclide-Contaminated Skin Wounds

Designing skin decontaminating materials with outstanding therapeutic effects, adhesiveness, and suitable mechanical property has great practical significance in radionuclide-contaminated skin wound healing. Here, a physically crosslinked hydrogel is constructed via hydrogen bonding of poly acrylamide, sodium alginate (SA), and the complexing agent diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA). The physical and chemical properties of the poly(AAm-SA-DTPA) hydrogel (PASD) are detected according to established methods. The decontaminating property and skin wound healing of the PASD are investigated to confirm multi-functions of wound dressing. The physical and chemical properties results show that the synthesis of the PASD hydrogel is effective and that DTPA is present in the hydrogel. The hydrogel also shows great mechanical and swelling properties. In vitro tests find that PASD shows significant scavenging abilities for strontium and cerium. In vivo experiments show that the PASD hydrogel can remove radioactive strontium from the skin wounds of mice, and can effectively prevent the absorption of radioactive strontium through the skin wound. Furthermore, the PASD hydrogel can effectively promote the formation of granulation tissue in a radioactive contaminated wound. Taken together, the PASD hydrogels, which has good mechanical properties and radionuclides decontamination, is expected to be used as a dressing for radionuclide-contaminated skin wound healing.