Injectable Arctium lappa polysaccharide-based composite hydrogel enhances diabetic wound healing

The slow healing of diabetic wounds remains a significant challenge. However, existing treatments often prove ineffective due to the complexity of diabetic wounds. The purpose of this study was to develop an injectable hydrogel loaded with natural polysaccharides to promote diabetic wound healing. Composite hydrogels containing different concentrations of Arctium lappa polysaccharides (ALP) were prepared. The differences in their microstructure, water content, degradation rate, rheological properties, biocompatibility, promotion of epidermal cell migration, and antibacterial properties were compared to determine the optimal ALP concentration. Additionally, a diabetic rat skin defect model was constructed to further validate the promoting effect of the ALP composite hydrogel. The results indicated that CMC/CBM/ALP hydrogels formed numerous dense and regular pores, and the addition of ALP improved the stability and water content of the gels. Among the various formulations, the composite hydrogel with 2 % ALP concentration exhibited superior biocompatibility, in vitro antibacterial properties, and effectively promoted the migration of HaCat epidermal cells. Compared to hydrogels without ALP, the ALP composite hydrogels accelerated the healing of skin wounds, promoted collagen deposition and vascularization, regulated M2 macrophage polarization, reduced inflammatory responses, and ultimately enhanced wound healing. Therefore, our study provided a feasible and effective polysaccharide-based hydrogel for treating diabetic wounds.