Construction of a Novel Mucin/Tannic Acid Hydrogel for Diabetic Wound Repair

The excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and prolonged inflammatory response in diabetic wounds impair neovascularization, resulting in chronic wounds that cause significant pain and financial burden. To address this issue, a novel mucin/tannic acid antioxidant hydrogel (Mu-TA) was developed in a simple and eco-friendly method, leveraging the unique properties of mucin as a hydrogel substrate and the antioxidant capabilities of tannic acid. The in vitro experiments demonstrated that the hydrogel possessed excellent self-healing properties, effective ROS-scavenging capability, and high biocompatibility, significantly mitigating oxidative damage to cells. Furthermore, in the diabetic wound model established in rats, Mu-TA hydrogels downregulated pro-inflammatory factor expression, facilitated the transition of macrophages from the M1 to M2 phenotype, and enhanced neovascularization, thereby accelerating diabetic wound healing. The novel Mu-TA antioxidant hydrogel developed in this study holds significant potential for applications in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.