Formulating Smart All-in-One Chitosan Hydrogel for High Performance Wound Dressing.
Chia-Chi Lin1,2, Andi Magattang Gafur Muchlis1, Ren-Jei Chung3
1Institute of Organic and Polymeric Materials, National Taipei University of Technology, No. 1, Section 3, Zhongxiao E. Rd, Daan District, Taipei, 10608, Taiwan.
Advanced Healthcare Materials
|October 7, 2025
Summary
This study developed a novel chitosan hydrogel, enhanced with poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) and silver nanoparticles, for improved wound healing. The smart hydrogel exhibits excellent antibacterial and thermal-responsive properties for advanced wound dressing applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Wound Healing Research
Background:
- Chitosan hydrogels possess limitations in mechanical strength and film formation, hindering their use as wound dressings.
- Developing advanced wound dressings requires materials with enhanced properties like thermosensitivity and antibacterial activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and synthesize a novel chitosan-graft-poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAAm) hydrogel crosslinked with polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl pyrollidone (PVA/PVP).
- To incorporate silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into the hydrogel for enhanced antibacterial efficacy.
- To evaluate the thermal, mechanical, swelling, antibacterial, and wound healing properties of the developed hydrogel.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of chitosan-graft-PNIPAAm hydrogel via crosslinking with PVA/PVP blend.
- Incorporation of AgNPs using a co-reduction method.
- Characterization of hydrogel properties including thermal responsiveness (particle size, transmittance), mechanical strength, swelling ratio, degradation rate, antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, and in vivo wound healing in rats.
Main Results:
- The hydrogel demonstrated thermosensitive behavior above 32°C, confirmed by decreased particle size and transmittance.
- Characterization revealed a porous 3D network structure with significant intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonding.
- The hydrogel exhibited a high swelling ratio (358.86 ± 23.56%) and a degradation ratio of 86.02 ± 2.82% over 21 days.
- Excellent antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli and accelerated wound healing in rat models were observed.
Conclusions:
- A novel chitosan-based thermosensitive hydrogel incorporating AgNPs was successfully developed.
- The hydrogel possesses superior physical, mechanical, and antibacterial properties, along with effective wound healing capabilities.
- This advanced chitosan hydrogel shows significant potential as a smart, all-in-one wound dressing for accelerating tissue repair.
