Injectable glycyrrhizinate-pectin hydrogel wound dressing based on natural ingredients

Wound healing remains a significant clinical challenge, particularly for chronic and non-healing wounds, which impose substantial burdens on patients and healthcare systems. Despite advances in wound care, traditional dressings lack therapeutic properties and can impede the healing process due to their inability to conform to irregular wound geometries and lack of self-healing capabilities. This study addresses these limitations by introducing an innovative, injectable Glycyrrhizic acid ammonium salt/Pectin@Strontium (GAAS/Pec@Sr) hydrogel dressing. The hydrogel is derived from natural ingredients and possesses multifunctional therapeutic properties, including bioabsorbability, self-healing, and the ability to promote blood vessel and collagen regeneration while exhibiting anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory functions. We developed the GAAS/Pec@Sr hydrogel through a combination of rheological experiments, gene and protein expression studies, and in vivo testing in a rat skin injury model. The GAAS/Pec@Sr hydrogel represents a promising biomaterial for wound healing, offering a novel solution derived entirely from natural products that can significantly contribute to the field of regenerative medicine.