Facile preparation of carboxymethyl chitosan/dextran/poly(ionic liquid)-based hydrogel with intrinsic antibacterial and antioxidant properties for accelerating skin wound healing

Bleeding, bacterial infections and inflammation of skin open wounds are still threat to the public. Traditional wound dressings lost their adaptability to wound shape and lack of therapeutic effects. Herein, the composite POCP hydrogel was prepared by introducing poly(ionic liquids)-poly(1-butyl-3-vinylimidazolium gluconate) with gluconate as the counter ion into a phenylboronic acid group-grafted carboxymethyl chitosan and oxidized dextran-based hydrogel for promoting skin wound healing. The dynamic Schiff base and borate ester crosslinks constructed the gel networks, which gives POCP excellent self-healing ability and thus being beneficial for adapting to wound shape. The poly(ionic liquids) matrix not only effectively enhanced the mechanical properties and antibacterial abilities of the hydrogel, but also endowed the hydrogel with good radical scavenging capacity. POCP also exhibited good adhesiveness towards different tissues and could effectively stop tissue bleeding. Through an in vivo skin defect model, this biocompatible POCP could accelerate wound closure and promote tissue regeneration by relieving inflammatory responses and facilitating angiogenesis. This work provides an effective drug-free strategy to prepare hydrogel dressings with multi-intrinsic properties for clinical wound management.