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Multilayer pH-Responsive Hydrogels Fabricated via Two-Step Ionic Crosslinking: Towards Advanced Wound Dressing
Gianluca Ciarleglio1, Virginia Clarizia1, Elisa Toto1
1Department of Chemical Engineering Materials Environment, Sapienza University of Rome, Via del Castro, Laurenziano 7, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Gels (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 28, 2025
Summary
Innovative multilayer hydrogel patches with alginate, bioactive compounds, and chitosan were developed for advanced wound care. These pH-reactive materials offer enhanced hydration, controlled release, and stability in wound environments.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Wound Healing Research
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Effective wound management necessitates materials that maintain hydration, prevent infection, and adapt to the wound microenvironment.
- Hydrogel-based systems offer potential for advanced wound care due to their tunable properties and biocompatibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate and characterize novel pH-reactive multilayer hydrogel patches for wound care applications.
- To incorporate bioactive compounds like Manuka honey, hyaluronic acid, and Ribes nigrum extract for enhanced therapeutic effects.
- To evaluate the structural integrity, hydration, and pH responsiveness of the developed hydrogel system.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of multilayer hydrogel patches using ionically crosslinked alginate and chitosan coating.
- Incorporation of bioactive compounds: Manuka honey, hyaluronic acid, and Ribes nigrum extract.
- Characterization techniques included water content, swelling behavior, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), degradation studies, optical microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.
Main Results:
- The chitosan-coated multilayer hydrogel demonstrated high water uptake (swelling ratio up to 22.11 ± 0.25) and water content (95.48 ± 0.05%).
- Controlled WVTR was observed (~3450-3850 g/m²·day⁻¹), with significantly reduced degradation (<42% at pH 8) compared to single layers (>80%).
- Microstructural and chemical analyses confirmed the structural integrity and successful incorporation of bioactive agents.
Conclusions:
- The developed pH-reactive multilayer hydrogel patches exhibit promising properties for wound care, including excellent hydration and stability.
- The material's ability to respond to pH variations and accommodate bioactive agents makes it suitable for controlled release applications in dynamic wound environments.
- Further investigation into the therapeutic efficacy and controlled release capabilities of these hydrogel systems is warranted for potential burn wound applications.
