Microenvironment-Driven Closed-Loop Wound Management Based on Glycyrrhizic Acid/Gelatin/Zinc Sulfide Hydrogel

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Wound Healing Research

Background:

• Wound healing is a dynamic process requiring stage-specific interventions.
• Current treatments often lack the ability to adapt to the changing wound environment.
• Developing smart materials that respond to physiological cues is crucial for advanced wound management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct a pH-responsive Glycyrrhizic Acid/Gelatin/Zinc Sulfide (GA/Gelatin/ZnS) hydrogel for enhanced wound healing.
• To investigate the hydrogel's ability to release therapeutic agents in response to the wound microenvironment.
• To evaluate the hydrogel's efficacy across different stages of wound healing.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of the GA/Gelatin/ZnS hydrogel using amide bonds, hydrogen bonds, and metal ion coordination.
• Utilizing molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and characterization techniques to confirm structural integrity.
• Assessing the hydrogel's performance in hemostasis, drug release kinetics, re-epithelialization, angiogenesis, and collagen deposition.

Main Results:

• The GA/Gelatin/ZnS hydrogel demonstrated facile fabrication and structural confirmation via MD simulations.
• The hydrogel exhibited excellent hemostatic properties and pH-responsive release of Zn²⁺ and H₂S.
• Significant promotion of re-epithelialization, angiogenesis, and collagen deposition was observed, accelerating wound closure.

Conclusions:

• The developed pH-responsive GA/Gelatin/ZnS hydrogel effectively manages wound healing across multiple stages.
• Its ability to release therapeutic ions and support tissue regeneration offers a new perspective for wound management.
• This smart hydrogel holds promise for advancing therapeutic strategies in regenerative medicine and wound care.