Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Preparation of Chitosan-based Injectable Hydrogels and Its Application in 3D Cell Culture
Published on: September 29, 2017
Chitosan-Hyaluronic Acid Composite Hydrogel with Slow-Release Hydrogen Sulfide and Cerium Oxide for Multifunctional
Xiaoqiang Wang1, Kai Zhu1, Wanxin Liu1
1Department of Orthopedics, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, People's Republic of China.
Introduction:
The management of chronic infected wounds imposes a substantial economic burden on patients and significantly impairs their quality of life due to persistent wound infections and delayed healing. To address this issue, we developed a multifunctional dressing with sustained hydrogen sulfide (H2S) release to accelerate wound healing.
Methods:
Sodium hydrosulfide-loaded cerium oxide (NaSH@CeO2) was synthesized via rotary evaporation and subsequently incorporated into a hydrogel dressing crosslinked with chitosan (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA), yielding NaSH@CeO2/CS-HA. The composite was characterized, and H2S release was quantified using the methylene blue method. The biological functions of NaSH@CeO2/CS-HA were evaluated through CCK-8 assay, Calcein-PI staining, DCFH-DA detection, scratch assay, tube formation assay, and antibacterial tests. A methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-infected wound model was established in rats to assess therapeutic efficacy based on wound healing rate, hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and immunofluorescence staining.
Results:
NaSH@CeO2/CS-HA demonstrated sustained H2S release without cytotoxicity while effectively inhibiting Escherichia coli and MRSA. Furthermore, it reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, maintained cell viability under H2O2-induced oxidative stress, promoted mouse fibroblast cells (L929 cells) migration, and enhanced tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In the MRSA-infected rat wound model, the NaSH@CeO2/CS-HA group achieved a 98.1% wound closure rate by day 14. H&E and Masson's staining revealed enhanced tissue healing, while immunofluorescence (CD31, Caspase-3) confirmed increased angiogenesis and reduced apoptosis at the wound site.
Conclusion:
The developed gel dressing (NaSH@CeO2/CS-HA) intelligently regulates H2S release, combining antioxidant, antibacterial, and wound-healing functions into one, providing a comprehensive treatment solution for chronic infectious wounds with significant clinical application potential.
Related Concept Videos
Inflammatory Response II: Inflammatory Exudate and Tissue Repair
The typical wound exudate is odorless, transparent, straw-colored, thin, and watery. Exudate, however, can differ depending on the state of wound healing. Likewise, the exudate's...
Hand hygiene
Hand washing...
Glycosaminoglycans
GAGS are found in the extracellular matrix of vertebrates, invertebrates, and bacteria. Due to their polar nature they attract water, and serve as excellent lubricants or shock absorbers in an animal body.
Hyaluronic...
Colloidal precipitates
Surface Membrane Barriers
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
Drugs for Peptic Ulcer Disease: Sucralfate as Mucosal Protective Agents
In this scenario, mucosal protective agents like sucralfate play an essential role. Sucralfate, a complex of sulfated sucrose and aluminum hydroxide, demonstrates its usefulness in acidic conditions,...

