Enhancing Biological Activity in Skin Repair with a Transdermal Peptide–Recombinant Type III Collagen Hydrogel

Skin wound healing is a complex biological process requiring coordinated cellular responses and extracellular matrix remodeling. Type III collagen (COL3A) plays a critical role in early-stage tissue repair, but its direct application is limited by poor stability and transdermal delivery. In this study, a sterile transdermal peptide-recombinant type III collagen (transdermal peptide-hCOL3A) hydrogel was developed to enhance biological activity and promote wound healing. The hydrogel was formulated using a carbomer matrix combined with trehalose, propylene glycol, triethanolamine, and the transdermal peptide-hCOL3A protein. Protein integrity was confirmed via SDS-PAGE analysis. The resulting hydrogel exhibited uniform structure and favorable physical properties. A full-thickness skin defect model in mice was established to evaluate therapeutic efficacy. Compared with the control hydrogel, the transdermal peptide-hCOL3A-loaded hydrogel significantly accelerated wound closure, as evidenced by faster reduction in wound area and improved healing progression over 7-8 days. These results demonstrate that the transdermal peptide-hCOL3A hydrogel effectively enhances wound healing, likely by improving collagen bioavailability and supporting tissue regeneration. This study provides a promising strategy for the development of advanced biomaterials for skin repair. © 2026 Wiley Periodicals LLC.