An adhesive gelatin-coated small intestinal submucosa composite hydrogel dressing aids wound healing

It is a challenging clinical task to determine how to repair large-area skin defects better. Traditional wound dressings (e.g., cotton and gauze) can only be used as a dressing; consequently, there is an increasing demand for wound dressings with additional properties (i.e., antibacterial and pro-repair) in clinical practice. In this study, a composite hydrogel with o-nitrobenzene-modified gelatin-coated decellularized small intestinal submucosa (GelNB@SIS) was designed for the repair of skin injuries. SIS is a natural extracellular matrix with a 3D microporous structure and also contains high levels of growth factors and collagen. GelNB provides this material photo-triggering tissue adhesive property. The structure, tissue adhesion, cytotoxicity, and bioactivity to cells were investigated. Based on in vivo study and histological analysis, we found the combination of GelNB and SIS improved the healing process by promoting vascular renewal, dermal remodeling, and epidermal regeneration. Based on our findings, GelNB@SIS is a promising candidate for tissue repair applications.