An Injectable Composite Hydrogel of Verteporfin‐Bonded Carboxymethyl Chitosan and Oxidized Sodium Alginate Facilitates Scarless Full‐Thickness Skin Regeneration

Abstract

Full‐thickness skin defect has always been a major challenge in clinic due to fibrous hyperplasia in repair process. Hydrogel composite dressings loaded with anti‐fibrotic drugs have been considered as a promising strategy for scarless skin regeneration. In this work, a hydrogel composite (VP‐CMCS‐OSA) of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) and oxidized sodium alginate (OSA), with loading anti‐fibrotic drug verteporfin (VP), is developed based on two‐step chemical reactions. Verteporfin was bonded with carboxymethyl chitosan through EDC/NHS treatment to form VP‐CMCS, and then VP‐CMCS was crosslinked with oxidized sodium alginate by Schiff base reaction to form VP‐CMCS‐OSA hydrogel. The characterization by SEM, FTIR, UV‐Vis showed the microstructure and chemical bonding of VP‐CMCS‐OSA. VP‐CMCS‐OSA hydrogel demonstrates the properties of high tissue adhesion, strong self‐healing and tensile ability. In the full‐thickness skin defect model, the VP‐CMCS‐OSA composite hydrogels hasten wound healing due to the synergistic effects of hydrogels and verteporfin administration. The histological examination revealed the regular collagen arrangement and more skin appendages after VP‐CMCS‐OSA composite hydrogel treatment, indicating the full‐thickness skin regeneration without potential scar formation. The outcomes suggest that the verteporfin‐loaded composite hydrogel could be a potential method for scarless skin regeneration.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Chitosan Hydrogel Dressing Loaded with Adipose Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Promotes Skin Full-Thickness Wound Repair

“…18 As a drug delivery system, chitosan-based hydrogels have been used to deliver antibacterial drugs, such as nanosilver, 19 and drugs for promoting damage repair, such as polypeptides 20 or verteporfin. 21 In this study, we prepared a chitosan hydrogel loading with ADMSCderived exosomes, estimated its effects on cell migration and angiogenesis in vitro, and evaluated the regenerative function on a rat skin wound model.…”

“…The stable gel state of the chitosan hydrogel is attributed to the hydrogen bond, hydrophobic force, and electrostatic force derived from hydroxyl groups and amino groups when the acidic chitosan solution is transformed to be a neutral aqueous solution after adding alkaline substances such as β-sodium glycerophosphate . As a drug delivery system, chitosan-based hydrogels have been used to deliver antibacterial drugs, such as nanosilver, and drugs for promoting damage repair, such as polypeptides or verteporfin . In this study, we prepared a chitosan hydrogel loading with ADMSC-derived exosomes, estimated its effects on cell migration and angiogenesis in vitro, and evaluated the regenerative function on a rat skin wound model.…”