Aug 2026· International Journal of Biological Macromolecules· Vol 380, pp.
154107
· 0 citations· 47 references
Medicine
TL;DR
TFe@SC hydrogel possesses some properties of antimicrobial dressings, such as high biosafety, adhesion to bacteria, and inhibition of bacterial proliferation with photothermal therapy (PTT).
Abstract
Antibiotics overuse frequently leads to bacterial resistance. A number of innovative approaches are being developed for bacteria inhibition. Fabrication of a biocompatible, easily prepared antibacterial dressings is highly desirable for promoting infected wound healing. In this work, a photothermal antibacterial dressing (TFe@SC) was constructed based on a natural polyphenolic molecule tannic acid, sodium alginate (SA) and chitosan (CHI). Tannic acid chelated with iron ion to form a tannin‑iron ion TA-Fe3+ coordination complex (TFe), which have photothermal properties. Furthermore, TFe was integrated into the sodium alginate (SA)-Ca2+-chitosan (CHI) composite hydrogel (SC hydrogel). The amino and carboxyl groups of SC hydrogel and phenolic hydroxyl groups of TFe generate hydrogen bonding interactions, enabling TFe to be firmly incorporated into the interior structure of SC hydrogel. TFe@SC hydrogel possesses some properties of antimicrobial dressings, such as high biosafety, adhesion to bacteria, and inhibition of bacterial proliferation with photothermal therapy (PTT). Meanwhile, the TFe@SC hydrogel was constituted by a variety of natural biomass molecules, including tannins, sodium alginate and chitosan, which endow the hydrogel with biocompatibility. Fe@SC hydrogel is a facile and easily synthesized composite material, which holds great promise for application as a functional hydrogel dressing.
A multifunctional hydrogel patch developed by chemically modifying chitosan with N-acetylsulfonyl chloride and forming a cross-linked network with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) represents a promising multifunctional dressing for the effective management of infected wounds.
Insha Kakroo, Nayeema Gull, Insha Mehraj et al.· ACS Applied Bio Materials· 0 citations
Hydrogel wound dressings have evolved from passive moisture barriers into intelligent platforms integrating multiple therapeutic functions. However, reconciling electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility remains challenging. Herein, we develop a high-strength electroactive hydrogel centered on the biomacromolecule lignosulfonate (LS), which is rich in functional groups for physical crosslinking and bioactivity, serves as the structural backbone of a primary network with poly(vinyl alcohol). Tannic acid (TA) is then anchored into this network via hydrogen bonding, followed by chelation of Cu2+ through TA's ortho-phenolic groups.The resulting hydrogel exhibits an elongation at break of 734%, a swelling ratio of 223%, and a high ionic conductivity of 0.427 S m-1-surpassing most previously reported metal-ion-conductive hydrogels. It also shows 99% DPPH radical scavenging activity. The TA-chelated Cu2+ ensures stable conductivity with negligible Cu2+ release (cumulative 0.605 ppm over 7 days, below the reported cytotoxic threshold), and confers >99% antibacterial rates against E. coli and S. aureus, while maintaining excellent cytocompatibility (>85% cell viability). In a murine full-thickness skin defect model, the conductive hydrogel combined with exogenous electrical stimulation dramatically accelerates wound closure, achieving a healing rate of 96.5% by day 18-markedly higher than the non-stimulated group (90.2%) and the untreated control (74.5%). Histological analysis further confirmed enhanced re-epithelialization and collagen deposition in the stimulated group, indicating improved tissue regeneration. This work establishes a robust, scalable platform for multifunctional conductive hydrogels based on a renewable biomacromolecule, offering a promising strategy for chronic wound management.
Yuqing Wang, Yu Li, Fangzhou Shi et al.· International Journal of Bio...· 0 citations
Conventional wound dressings often fail to conform adequately to irregular wound beds, thereby limiting their therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, the development of multifunctional dressings with self-adaptive capabilities is crucial for improving the quality of wound healing. Herein, we developed a spray-crosslinking strategy to construct a multifunctional hydrogel dressing by compounding natural polymers‑sodium alginate (Alg), quaternized chitosan (QAC), and gallic acid (GA). Through a dual-nozzle spray system, the dressing was formed via in situ and rapid crosslinking with zinc ions (Zn2+). This process was accomplished within 10 s, achieving excellent self-adaptive conformity to the wound contours. Benefiting from the combined effect of electrostatic interactions and Schiff base crosslinking, the hydrogel exhibited significantly improved mechanical strength and structural stability compared to pure zinc alginate hydrogel. Functionally, the synergistic effect of QAC and Alg-Zn endowed the dressing with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, with maximum inhibition zones of 6 mm, 8 mm, and 2 mm against E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa, respectively. Additionally, the incorporation of GA provided superior reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capabilities. In a murine full-thickness skin defect model, the dressing significantly accelerated wound healing, with a closure rate reaching 98.15% by day 15, and promoted collagen deposition and tissue regeneration. In summary, the self-adaptive sprayable hydrogel dressing developed in this work integrates rapid molding, broad-spectrum antibacterial, antioxidant, and healing-promoting functions, offering a promising new strategy for the effective treatment of complex clinical wounds.
Jinyu Shan, Xinru Wang, Jie Zhang et al.· International Journal of Bio...· 0 citations
A multifunctional composite hydrogel (GelDA/OPL) with excellent adhesion, self-healing properties, injectability, and photothermal antibacterial activity through Schiff base crosslinking between dopamine-modified gelatin (GelDA) and oxidized pullulan (OPL) is constructed.
Chen Zhang, Surui Yang, Zhi Xu et al.· Journal of materials chemist...· 0 citations
Impaired healing of chronic wounds typically stems from persistent oxidative stress, bacterial infection, and cellular dysfunction. Designing a multifunctional hydrogel dressing capable of adhesion, antioxidant activity, antibacterial ability, and cytocompatibility has demonstrated potential in wound healing applications. In this study, HTP composite hydrogels were fabricated based on thiolated chitosan (TCS) and methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HAMA) by incorporating polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) and gelatin via the synergistic crosslinking of thiol-Michael addition and free-radical photopolymerization. Comprehensive characterization revealed that the hydrogel possessed an interconnected porous microstructure, appropriate swelling properties, and controllable degradation profiles, accompanied by pronounced shear-thinning behavior and tissue-adhesive capabilities. The obtained hydrogels demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Furthermore, the HTP hydrogels exhibited remarkable antioxidant capacity, scavenging DPPH and ABTS radicals. Additionally, the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging ability was validated using NIH-3 T3 cells. Hemolysis assays and cytocompatibility evaluations confirmed the favorable hemocompatibility of the HTP hydrogels, which significantly promoted fibroblast proliferation and migration, indicating their substantial potential for wound healing applications.
Lei Nie, Xinran Li, Mengfei Feng et al.· International Journal of Bio...· 0 citations
Stable hydrogel formation with favorable porous architecture, swelling behavior, thermal stability, and homogeneous distribution of nanovesicles was well established and exhibited excellent biocompatibility, hemocompatibility, and enhanced cell-material interactions.
Rizos Evangelos Bikiaris, Ioanna Koumentakou, A. Niti et al.· ACS Applied Bio Materials· 0 citations