Gum arabic based multifunctional antibacterial adhesion hydrogel dressings loaded with doxycycline hydrochloride for...

Infection is a crucial factor impeding wound healing, and hydrogel with three-dimensional network structure has great advantages in promoting wound healing. Herein, a zwitterionic hydrogel is developed by gum arabic, acrylic acid, and sulfobetaine methacrylate. Zwitterions exhibit exceptional hydration properties, thereby imparting hydrogels with superior bacterial adhesion resistance, robust structural stability, and adjustable modulation capabilities. Furthermore, the incorporation of Doxycycline Hydrochloride (DOX) into the formulation aims to address potential wound infections while also imparting exceptional antioxidant properties to the hydrogel (DOX@GASGel). In vitro antibacterial experiments demonstrated that 99.55 ± 0.08 % of S. aureus and 99.55 ± 0.06 % of E. coli were killed, and it exhibited high reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. The results of experiments in ICR mice with a full-thickness infected wound model showed a wound healing rate of 97 % for wounds treated with DOX@GASGel hydrogel. This outcome was primarily attributed to hydrogel's capacity to promote collagen deposition and angiogenesis within the wounds, while concurrently reducing ROS levels. In conclusion, the preparation method of the hydrogel dressing designed in this study is straightforward, demonstrating robust wound-healing effects, and holds promising applications in the treatment of infected wounds.