Multifunctional Ionic Composite Hydrogel with Curcumin Capsule for Promoting Infected Wound Healing

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Wound Healing Research

Background:

• Wound infections and excessive inflammation pose significant clinical challenges.
• Curcumin (Cur) shows therapeutic promise for infected wounds but suffers from poor solubility and stability.
• Existing treatments often rely on antibiotics, driving the need for alternative strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel drug delivery system for curcumin to enhance infected wound healing.
• To create an injectable hydrogel capable of sustained curcumin release and possessing tunable properties.
• To evaluate the efficacy of the curcumin-loaded hydrogel as an antibiotic-free treatment for bacterial-infected wounds.

Main Methods:

• Curcumin was encapsulated within succinic acid-modified cyclodextrin nanoparticles.
• These nanoparticles were loaded into a zinc ion (Zn²⁺)-crosslinked injectable hydrogel.
• The composite hydrogel's properties and in vivo efficacy in a rat *S. aureus* wound model were assessed.

Main Results:

• The composite hydrogel demonstrated tunable rheological properties, swelling, and degradation rates based on Zn²⁺ concentration.
• Sustained curcumin release provided long-term antioxidant and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity.
• In vivo studies showed accelerated wound healing, bacterial reduction, suppressed inflammation, and enhanced collagen deposition and angiogenesis.

Conclusions:

• The developed curcumin-loaded hydrogel is a versatile and effective system for managing infected wounds.
• This approach offers a promising antibiotic-free therapeutic strategy for bacteria-invaded wound management.
• The tunable nature of the hydrogel allows for tailored treatment of complex wound conditions.