Self-Transforming Bioadhesive Patch with Topological and Ionic Crosslinking for Adaptive Mucoadhesion and Enhanced...

Oral mucosal wound healing is particularly challenging due to the highly dynamic and moisture-rich environment, which undermines the adhesion and retention of conventional dressings. However, commercial intra‑oral dressings demonstrate insufficient adhesive strength under wet, dynamic oral conditions and lack incorporated therapeutic agents, thereby providing only passive coverage rather than actively promoting healing. In this study, we introduce a self-transforming bioadhesive patch that leverages topological adhesion and in situ ionic crosslinking to achieve adaptive mucoadhesion and improved wound healing within the oral cavity. Upon hydration, the patch undergoes a dry-to-wet transformation, facilitating strong adhesion, mechanical stability, and controlled degradation for sustained retention on mucosal surfaces. Comparative assays demonstrated that the patch exhibited markedly superior adhesion performance and prolonged interfacial bonding compared with commercial oral dressings. The in vivo studies confirm its biocompatibility, along with accelerated wound closure, enhanced re-epithelialization, and increased angiogenesis. Histological analysis also reveals more advanced tissue remodeling and collagen organization. Collectively, these results position this bioadhesive platform as a promising candidate for intraoral wound management, offering a synergistic combination of mucoadhesion, mechanical resilience, and therapeutic functionality for improved mucosal tissue repair.