One-Step Synthesis of Multifunctional Chitosan Hydrogel for Full-Thickness Wound Closure and Healing

Multifunctional hydrogel as a sealant or wound dressing with high adhesiveness and excellent antibacterial activity is highly desirable in clinical applications. In this contribution, one-step synthetic hydrogel based on quaternized chitosan (QCS), tannic acid (TA), and ferric iron (Fe(III)) is developed for skin incision closure and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)-infected wound healing. In this hydrogel system, the ionic bonds and hydrogen bonds between QCS and TA form the main backbone of hydrogel, the metal coordination bonds between TA and Fe(III) (catechol-Fe) endow hydrogel with excellent adhesiveness and (near-infrared light) NIR-responsive photothermal property, and these multiple dynamic physical crosslinks enable QCS/TA/Fe hydrogel with flexible self-healing ability and injectability. Moreover, QCS/TA/Fe hydrogel possesses superior antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hemostasis, and biocompatibility. Also, it is safe for vital organs. The data from the mouse skin incision model and infected full-thickness skin wound model presented the high wound closure effectiveness and acceleration of the wound healing process by this multifunctional hydrogel, highlighting its great potential in wound management.