Coassembly of Fiber Hydrogel with Antibacterial Activity for Wound Healing

Abstract

Wound healing remains a critical challenge due to its vulnerability to bacterial infection and the complicated inflammatory microenvironment. Herein, we report a novel antibacterial hydrogel constructed only by gallic acid (GA) and phycocyanin (PC), which is expected for the treatment of bacteria-infected wounds. These GA/PC hydrogels (GP) was found to coassemble into fibrous networks with a diameter of around 2 μm mainly through noncovalent interactions of hydrogen bonds, van der Waals force, and π interaction. Notably, these GP hydrogels showed excellent rheological properties (i.e., storage modulus of more than 9.0 × 104 Pa) and outstanding biocompatibility and antibacterial activities. Thanks to the incorporation of GA and PC, the GP hydrogels enabled adherence to the moist wound tissue and achieved a sustained release of GA and PC into the wound skin, therefore effectively attenuating inflammation and accelerating wound healing both in normal mice and bacteria-infected mice through regulating the expression of the tight junction protein and the alleviation of oxidative stress. Considering these results, these GP hydrogels are demonstrated to be a promising candidate for bacteria-infected wound healing.

A comprehensive exploration of hydrogel applications in multi-stage skin wound healing

“…Inflammation occurs during the wound healing process and issues such as antioxidant and antimicrobial properties are typical and unavoidable. [123][124][125] Overwhelming inflammation can cause chronic wounds like diabetic wounds and failed wound healing by upsetting the redox equilibrium and producing more reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the wound. Consequently, wound healing can be greatly aided by developing efficient antibacterial and antioxidant tactics and keeping an eye on pertinent variables.…”

Therapeutic Agent-Loaded Fibrous Scaffolds for Biomedical Applications

“…Drug loading in 3D printing ink [249] Wound healing Physical coassembling to construct fibrous hydrogel Phycocyanin (anti-inflammatory activity), gallic acid (antibacterial activity and anti-inflammatory activity) Mixing drugs for assembled fibrous scaffold fabrication [250] Wound healing Electrospinning method Manganese dioxide (MnO 2 , agent for assuaging oxidative stress), curcumin (agent for anti-inflammation)…”

An ECM-mimicking assembled gelatin/hyaluronic acid hydrogel with antibacterial and radical scavenging functions for accelerating open wound healing

“…In order to accelerate wound healing, various biomaterials have been used, including films, porous foams, and functional hydrogels [13][14][15]. Because of their excellent hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, and three-dimensional network structure resembling extracellular matrix (ECM), hydrogels have garnered the most interest of these materials.…”