Intelligent Hierarchical Hydrogel Architectures Integrating Photothermal Conversion, Self-Healing, Bioadhesion and...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Materials Chemistry

Background:

• Effective wound management is crucial but challenging.
• Current treatments often have limitations in addressing multiple aspects of healing.
• Advanced materials are needed for simultaneous wound healing improvements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel mfp5-inspired multicross-linked hydrogel for wound management.
• To incorporate dibenzaldehyde-terminated polyethylene glycol, ε-poly-l-lysine, gallic acid, tannic acid, and Fe3+ ions into the hydrogel.
• To evaluate the hydrogel's physicochemical properties, antibacterial efficacy, hemostatic capabilities, and wound healing performance.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of the DAPEG/GAEPL@TA/Fe hydrogel.
• Assessment of hydrogel properties including adhesion, mechanical strength, and self-healing.
• In vitro and in vivo testing for antibacterial activity (including photothermal enhancement) and hemostasis.
• In vivo evaluation of wound healing acceleration, collagen deposition, and inflammation reduction.

Main Results:

• The DAPEG/GAEPL@TA/Fe hydrogel exhibited strong wet adhesion, excellent mechanical properties, and self-healing capabilities.
• Enhanced antibacterial efficacy against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria via NIR-induced photothermal conversion.
• Remarkable hemostatic performance in mouse models.
• Significant acceleration of in vivo wound healing with increased collagen deposition and reduced inflammation.

Conclusions:

• The multifunctional DAPEG/GAEPL@TA/Fe hydrogel presents a breakthrough in wound dressing materials.
• It offers a comprehensive solution for complex wound management challenges.
• The hydrogel shows promising potential for clinical applications in wound management and tissue regeneration.