Dual-Network Protein Hydrogels Promote Rapid Hemostasis and Immune-Regulated Scarless Tissue Regeneration

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Bioadhesive hydrogels show promise for hemostasis and tissue repair but face challenges in mechanical strength, adhesion, and scar formation.
• Current limitations hinder clinical translation, leading to pain, prolonged healing, and scarring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an injectable, dual-network hydrogel for enhanced hemostasis and scarless tissue regeneration.
• To create a material with tunable mechanical properties, strong adhesion to wet tissues, and anti-inflammatory/anti-scarring capabilities.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a dual-network hydrogel using fibrin, methacrylated dextran (Dex-MA), and dopamine methacrylamide (DMA).
• Dual crosslinking via thrombin (enzymatic) and dithiothreitol (redox) for adaptive network formation.
• Evaluation of hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-scarring properties in rat models, including transcriptomic analysis (RNA-seq).

Main Results:

• The hydrogel demonstrated rapid hemostasis, significantly reducing blood loss and bleeding time in rat models.
• It exhibited potent anti-inflammatory effects by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and promoting M2 macrophage polarization.
• Transcriptomic analysis confirmed suppression of fibrotic pathways (TGF-β) and reduced collagen deposition, leading to scar-free wound closure.

Conclusions:

• The developed fibrin-dextran hydrogel platform offers a promising solution for advanced wound healing.
• It integrates hemostasis, immunomodulation, and anti-fibrotic healing for scarless tissue regeneration.
• This bioinspired material provides a generalized strategy for next-generation bioadhesive materials.