Analgesic antibacterial anti-inflammatory pregabalin-functionalized hyaluronic acid-chitosan hydrogel for painless...

Burns constitute a significant global health challenge, with wound infection, delayed healing, and severe pain presenting major obstacles in burn management. To address these challenges, we developed a multifunctional polysaccharide-based hydrogel (denoted as CHP) through EDC/NHS-mediated crosslinking between hyaluronic acid (HA) carboxyl groups and amino groups from both carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) and pregabalin (PGB), integrating the therapeutic agent into the hydrogel network. The CHP hydrogels demonstrated injectability, biodegradability, water absorption, and sustained release of PGB. In vitro studies demonstrated potent antibacterial activity, anti-inflammatory effects, and enhanced angiogenesis of CHP hydrogel, while in vivo evaluation revealed accelerated wound closure and improved tissue regeneration. Notably, a 42-day behavioral test demonstrated that CHP hydrogel effectively alleviated pain in mice following burn injury by reducing mechanical pain sensitization. This study highlighted the potential of the CHP hydrogel as a promising therapeutic strategy for burn wound management, offering a novel approach for pain-related tissue repair and treatment.