In Situ-Forming, Adhesive, and Antioxidant Chitosan Hydrogels for Accelerated Wound Healing

Antioxidant hydrogels that can provide a moist environment and scavenge reactive oxygen species have emerged as highly potential wound dressing materials. In situ-forming and good tissue adhesiveness will make them more desirable, as they can fill the irregular wound defect, stick to the wound, and offer intimate contact with the wound. Herein, a hydrogel dressing combining in situ-forming, good tissue adhesiveness, and excellent antioxidant capabilities was developed by simply conjugating dopamine onto carboxymethyl chitosan. The introduction of dopamine allows in situ gelation of the polymer under mild conditions using an HRP-catalyzed cross-linking reaction. The introduction of dopamine also endows the hydrogels with suitable tissue-adhesion properties. Excellent antioxidant properties were also imparted as a result of the introduction of dopamine. Thanks to the favorable moist environment provided by the hydrogel and the effectively mitigated oxidative stress at wound sites, accelerated healing and reduced scar formation were observed in a rat full-thickness skin wound model.