Hydrogel Complex Containing the Antimicrobial Peptide HX-12C Accelerates Healing of Infected Wounds

Bacterial infections of the wound surface can be painful for patients, and traditional dressings do not effectively address this problem. In this study, an antimicrobial wound dressing is prepared using a novel antimicrobial peptide, HX-12C. This hydrogel system is based on the natural biomaterials sodium alginate and gelatin, utilizing calcium carbonate as a source of Ca²⁺ , and ionic cross-linking is facilitated by lowering the solution pH. The resulting sodium alginate/gelatin HX-12C-loaded hydrogel (CaAGEAM) has good mechanical and adhesion properties, biocompatibility and in vitro degradability. Its extraordinary antibacterial efficacy (>98%) is verified by an antibacterial experiment. More importantly, in vivo experiments further demonstrate its healing-promotion effect, with a 95% wound healing rate by day 9. Tissue staining demonstrates that the hydrogel containing antimicrobial peptides is effective in suppressing inflammation. The dressing promotes wound healing by stimulating the deposition of skin appendages and collagen. The results of this study suggest that composite hydrogels containing antimicrobial peptides are a promising new type of dressing to promote the healing of infected wounds.