Accelerated, injectable, self-healing, scarless wound dressings using rGO reinforced dextran/chitosan hydrogels...

The process of wound healing is intricate and complex, necessitating the intricate coordination of various cell types and bioactive molecules. Despite significant advances, challenges persist in achieving accelerated healing and minimizing scar formation. Herein, a multifunctional hydrogel engineered via dynamic Schiff base crosslinking between oxidized dextran and quaternized chitosan, reinforced with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is reported. The resulting OQG hydrogels demonstrated injectability to aid in conforming to irregular wound geometries, rapid self-healing to maintain structural integrity and adhesion for intimate integration with wound beds. Moreover, the developed hydrogels possessed antioxidant and antibacterial activities, mitigating inflammation and preventing infection. The incorporation of conductive rGO further facilitated the transmission of endogenous electrical signals, stimulating cell migration and tissue regeneration. In addition, the polydopamine-encapsulated asiaticoside (AC@PDA) nanoparticles were encapsulated in OQG hydrogels to reduce scar formation during in vivo evaluations. In vitro results confirmed the histocompatibility of the hydrogels to promote cell migration. The recovery of the full-thickness rat wounds revealed that these designed OQG hydrogels with the incorporation of AC@PDA nanoparticles could accelerate wound healing, reduce inflammation, facilitate angiogenesis, and minimize scarring when implemented. This multifunctional hydrogel system offers a promising strategy for enhanced wound management and scarless tissue regeneration, addressing the multifaceted challenges in wound care.