A chitosan-based antibacterial hydrogel with injectable and self-healing capabilities

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Wound Healing Research
• Antimicrobial Hydrogels

Background:

• Bacterial presence significantly impedes wound healing processes.
• Chitosan-based hydrogels offer promising advantages for wound care due to inherent antimicrobial properties.
• Developing advanced hydrogels with enhanced functionalities is crucial for effective wound management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel double-cross-linked chitosan-based hydrogel.
• To engineer a hydrogel with integrated antibacterial, self-healing, and injectable characteristics.
• To evaluate the hydrogel's efficacy in inhibiting bacterial growth and its biocompatibility.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of thiolated chitosan.
• Formation of a supramolecular hydrogel via Ag-S coordination cross-linking.
• Covalent cross-linking with genipin to enhance hydrogel stability.
• In vitro assessment of antibacterial activity, silver ion release kinetics, self-healing, injectability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability.

Main Results:

• The hydrogel demonstrated sustained release of silver ions (Ag+), achieving over 99% inhibition against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
• The unique Ag-S coordination enabled reversible cross-linking, resulting in injectable and self-healing hydrogel properties.
• The developed hydrogel exhibited excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, crucial for in vivo applications.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized double-cross-linked chitosan hydrogel possesses significant antibacterial efficacy and desirable self-healing and injectable properties.
• This advanced biomaterial holds substantial potential for innovative wound healing applications.
• The combination of antimicrobial activity and dynamic physical properties offers a new paradigm for therapeutic hydrogels.