A Thermosensitive Hydroxybutyl Chitosan/Microalgae Hydrogel With Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities for...

Capitalizing on microalgae extract (MAE) to scavenge reactive oxygen species, repair cell damage, and modulate macrophage related inflammatory responses, an injectable thermosensitive responsive hydrogel (HBC-MAE) was developed to promote burn wound healing in this study. Comprising MAE and hydroxybutyl chitosan (HBC), the resulting HBC-MAE hydrogel showed favorable thermosensitivity; both its sol-gel transition temperature and gelation time were tunable by adjusting the HBC/MAE ratio. Meanwhile, the hydrogels also possessed significant antioxidant and antibacterial activity, enabling them to effectively resist nonspecific protein adsorption and bacterial adhesion. In a burn wound model, the thermosensitive formulation ensured complete wound coverage. By mimicking the extracellular-matrix, it provides both structural support and a biochemical niche for tissue repair. Furthermore, it suppressed local inflammation and redirected macrophage polarization from the pro-inflammatory M1 toward the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, thereby establishing an immune-favorable microenvironment that enhanced the healing rate. Consequently, this multifunctional hydrogel offers a promising and convenient strategy for advanced burn wound care.