Harnessing the therapeutic potential of chitosan/PVA/AEAPTS-modified bentonite clay hydrogels for enhanced angiogenesis and rapid wound healing

Angiogenesis plays a crucial role in wound healing, as the development of new capillaries promotes granulation tissue formation, which provides the basis for extracellular matrix buildup and tissue regeneration. Impaired angiogenesis is a critical factor in delayed wound healing. This study explores the potential of chitosan/poly vinylalcohol (PVA)/bentonite clay modified with N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (AEAPTS) hydrogels prepared by solution casting method to address this issue. Chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay results indicated increased blood vessel count in CPB0.2 (196.449 ± 1.92) hydrogel as compared to control group (141.536 ± 1.207, p ≤ 0.05) without causing significant toxicity or abnormal development confirmed the nontoxic nature of the hydrogels. Wound healing efficacy was examined in a full-thickness excision wound model in Swiss Webster albino mice. The results showed higher wound contraction rate, re-epithelialization, no significant histological changes and improved collagen deposition in hydrogel treated groups as compared to untreated groups. CPB0.2 treated mice achieved 93% wound contraction compared to CPB0 (90.73%) and untreated group (72.8%) (p ≤ 0.05) by 10th day. The ability to promote angiogenesis, anti-bacterial property and accelerate tissue regeneration makes these hydrogels a promising candidate for advanced wound care and regenerative therapeutic agents.