Photo-Crosslinked Pro-Angiogenic Hydrogel Dressing for Wound Healing.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Wound Healing Research

Background:

• Severe burns cause inflammation and ischemia, delaying healing.
• Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes wound healing but has limited clinical use due to instability.
• Developing stable delivery systems for pro-angiogenic factors is crucial for effective wound treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a photo-crosslinked hydrogel wound dressing incorporating a pro-angiogenic peptide (PR1P).
• To evaluate the hydrogel's ability to recruit VEGF and promote angiogenesis.
• To assess the efficacy of the hydrogel dressing in accelerating skin regeneration and wound closure in vivo.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a photo-crosslinked hydrogel from methacrylate hyaluronic acid (MeHA) functionalized with PR1P.
• In vitro assessment of VEGF recruitment, endothelial cell functions (tubular formation, migration).
• In vivo evaluation in deep second-degree burn and full-thickness excisional wound models, including neovascularization and wound closure assessment.
• Analysis of the VEGF-Akt signaling pathway via Western blot.

Main Results:

• The PR1P-bonded hydrogel demonstrated enhanced VEGF recruitment, tubular formation, and cell migration in vitro.
• The hydrogel dressing did not negatively impact swelling, mechanical, or physical properties.
• In vivo studies showed accelerated wound closure and enhanced neovascularization in burn and excisional wound models.
• Activation of the VEGF-Akt signaling pathway was observed, correlating with improved healing.

Conclusions:

• The developed photo-crosslinked hydrogel dressing effectively promotes VEGF recruitment and angiogenesis.
• This novel biomaterial shows significant potential for enhancing skin regeneration and clinical wound healing applications.