Bioactive Hydrogel Dressings Incorporating Decellularized Ovine Liver Extracellular Matrix (ECM) for Effective Wound...

Chronic wounds present significant healthcare challenges, necessitating advanced biomaterials for effective tissue regeneration. This study introduces a bioactive hydrogel dressing incorporating decellularized ovine liver-derived extracellular matrix (LdECM), a biologically active material containing structural proteins, glycosaminoglycans, and matrix-associated regenerative cues that may support cellular infiltration and tissue regeneration. Tannic and gallic acids were added for antimicrobial and antioxidant properties while enhancing mechanical strength and hydrogel stability. Characterization studies verified that the hydrogel possessed mechanically adaptive stability along with an appropriate porous architecture. Mechanical evaluation demonstrated that Construct C exhibited a Young's modulus of 0.2382 MPa, indicating suitable mechanical stability while maintaining the flexibility required for wound-dressing applications. In vitro analyses further showed that Construct C had superior cytocompatibility, achieving 127% cell viability after 24 h, as well as notable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with inhibition zones measuring 1.6 and 1.3 mm, respectively. In vivo investigations using a rat wound model revealed enhanced wound healing performance, with Constructs C and D attaining approximately 70% wound closure by Day 14 and demonstrating superior healing performance compared with the other experimental groups. Moreover, LdECM-containing constructs consistently outperformed LdECM-free formulations, highlighting the synergistic contribution of extracellular matrix incorporation and polymer cross-linking. Despite rapid initial degradation, the hydrogels retained bioactivity, supporting tissue remodeling. Whereas the negative control group showed comparable wound closure, histological analysis revealed inferior skin quality. In contrast, LdECM-based constructs resulted in fully developed skin layers with proper collagen organization and vascularization. These findings support the use of LdECM as a biologically active component in wound-dressing design.