Thermoresponsive Self-Healing Zwitterionic Hydrogel as an In Situ Gelling Wound Dressing for Rapid Wound Healing

Abstract

It is highly desired yet challenging to fabricate biocompatible injectable self-healing hydrogels with anti-bacterial adhesion properties for complex wounds that can autonomously adapt to different shapes and depths and can promote angiogenesis and dermal collagen synthesis for rapid wound healing. Herein, an injectable zwitterionic hydrogel with excellent self-healing property, good cytocompatibility, and antibacterial adhesion was developed from a thermoresponsive ABA triblock copolymer poly[(N-isopropyl acrylamide)-co-(butyl acrylate)-co-(sulfobetaine methacrylate)]-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly[(N-isopropyl acrylamide)-co-(butyl acrylate)-co-(sulfobetaine methacrylate)] (PZOPZ). The prepared PZOPZ hydrogel exhibits a distinct thermal-induced sol−gel transition around physiological temperature and could be easily applied in a sol state and in situ gelled to adapt complex wounds of different shapes and depths for complete coverage. Meanwhile, the hydrogel possesses a rapid selfhealing ability and can recover autonomously from damage to maintain structural and functional integrity. In addition, the CCK-8 and 2D/3D cell culture experiments revealed that the PZOPZ hydrogel dressing shows low cytotoxicity to L929 cells and can effectively prevent the adhesion of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In vivo investigations verified that the PZOPZ hydrogel could increase angiogenesis and dermal collagen synthesis and shorten the transition from the inflammatory to the proliferative stage, thereby providing more favorable conditions for faster wound healing. Overall, this work provides a promising strategy to develop injectable zwitterionic hydrogel dressings with multiple functions for clinic wound management.

CuS Hybrid Hydrogel for Near-Infrared-Enhanced Infected Wound Healing: A Gelatin-Assisted Synthesis and Direct Incorporation Strategy

“…Hydrogels used for infected wound treatment are prone to external mechanical forces, which may affect the hydrogels’ service life and therapeutic effect. Therefore, self-healing ability can be beneficial for the hydrogel to maintain structural and functional integrity and recover autonomously under the influence of external mechanical forces. ,, The self-healing property of the Gel-CuS-8/ODex hydrogel was first demonstrated macroscopically by direct visual inspection (Figure F). A piece of the Gel/ODex hydrogel was first stained with rhodamine B and kept in touch with the Gel-CuS-8/ODex hydrogel.…”

Double-Layer Hydrogel with Glucose-Activated Two-Stage ROS Regulating Properties for Programmed Diabetic Wound Healing

“…The cytotoxicity of hydrogels was assessed by CCK-8 assay on L929 cells, as shown in ref L929 cells were cultured in DMEM medium with 10% fetal bovine serum and 1% penicillin–streptomycin. Briefly, L929 cells were seeded on 96-well plates with a density of 5 × 10 3 cells/well overnight for 24 h at 37 °C.…”

On-Demand Dissociable Antibacterial Self-Healing Hydrogel with Rapid Arginine-Related Biosynthesis Capacity to Promote Full-Thickness Bacteria-Infected Wound Healing

“…Hydrogels have emerged as a promising and competitive candidate for wound dressings owing to their easily modifiable physicochemical properties, high similarity to the extracellular matrix, the ability to exchange nutrients and excreted waste with wound tissue, and provide a continuous moist microenvironment for cell proliferation and migration. , However, most hydrogel dressings during wound healing tend to adhere to regenerated tissue and can cause accidental wound injury during dressing changes, thereby severely compromising healing efficacy . To overcome this drawback, researchers have devoted great efforts to realizing on-demand hydrogel dissociation via chemical reagents, light irradiation, electrical stimulation, or temperature. − Among them, thermoresponsive hydrogels (e.g., PNIPAM-based hydrogels) have attracted great attention for their ability to achieve hydrogel dressing peeling in a gentle and controlled manner by altering the state of the hydrogel via temperature change . In parallel to these efforts, endowing hydrogels with self-healing property has emerged as an important strategy to reduce the risk of accidental injury and residuals during dressing changes. , The developed self-healing hydrogels can withstand mechanical deformation during wound management and can restore hydrogel structure and function autonomously after breakage. − As a result, they can act as a good barrier between the wound and the environment to prevent microbial invasion and wound infection, promoting wound healing and reducing the changing frequency of hydrogel dressings.…”