An Injectable, Anti-Inflammatory, and Angiogenesis-Promoting Dual Crosslinked Hydrogel Loaded with Ginsenoside Rg1 on...

The healing of skin wounds is a complex process, the outcome of which is determined by a combination of factors. Adverse factors, such as infection, chronic inflammatory infiltration, and poor vascularity, can impede the healing process, significantly reducing the quality of life. The primary method of promoting wound healing is pharmacotherapy; however, pharmacotherapy alone has several disadvantages, including poor release control, a short half-life, and low bioavailability. Therefore, designing materials with well-controlled release properties and increased bioavailability is important. In this study, ginsenoside Rg1 was incorporated into a photo-crosslinking (LAP/UV) and chemical cross-linking (EDC-mediated amide bond formation) hydrogel synthesized from hyaluronic acid methacrylamide and silk fibroin to enhance drug activity. The resulting composite hydrogel has good hydrophilicity, mechanical properties, and stability, enabling the slow release of Rg1 for up to 14 days. In addition, in vitro experiments revealed that the composite hydrogel exhibits good biocompatibility (Cell viability > 90%) and promotes angiogenesis and maturation. In subsequent in vivo experiments, the composite hydrogel showed a good ability to promote vascular regeneration (p < 0.0001) and collagen deposition. Finally, Western blotting and qPCR analysis of rat tissues showed that the drug-loaded composite hydrogel group possessed anti-inflammatory and tissue healing abilities. This suggests that the composite hydrogel developed shows great promise in promoting wound healing.