Decellularized skin enriched with methacrylated hyaluronic acid enhances cell adhesion and accelerates wound closure

Dermal substitutes that simultaneously provide structural fidelity and bioactive signaling remain limited in clinical wound care. Here, we report a hybrid dermal patch based on decellularized bovine dermis (dDerm) coated with photo-crosslinked methacrylated hyaluronic acid (MeHA-Derm). Successful functionalization was confirmed by FTIR and SEM, demonstrating formation of a uniform hydrogel layer. The MeHA-Derm patches exhibited enhanced swelling capacity and improved mechanical performance, with Young's modulus significantly increasing relative to native bovine skin. HaCaT keratinocytes cultured on MeHA-Derm showed high cytocompatibility, with viability exceeding 90% at days 3 and 5. Metabolic activity was significantly elevated in MeHA-Derm compared to dDerm. Immunofluorescence revealed increased vinculin secretion, indicating stronger focal adhesion. In vitro scratch assay demonstrated a significantly accelerated wound closure of 82 ± 12% on day 5 on MeHA-Derm versus dDerm at 43 ± 25%. Moreover, ex vivo analysis confirmed superior gap closure, reaching 92 ± 4% by day 10 compared to 84 ± 14% on dDerm. Overall, the MeHA coating enhances hydration, mechanical stability, and cell-matrix interactions while preserving native dermal architecture. This strategy provides a scalable and biologically instructive platform for next-generation skin regeneration and advanced wound care applications.