Multifunctional polysaccharide/metal/polyphenol double-crosslinked hydrogel for infected wound

Bacterial-infected wounds present a significant challenge in the medical field, posing a severe threat to public health. Traditional wound dressings have limited efficacy in treating bacterial-infected wounds, and antibiotics suffer from cytotoxicity and drug resistance. Consequently, an urgent requirement exists for developing multifunctional wound dressings capable of providing superior antimicrobial activity and expediting wound repair . In recent years, chitosan-based natural polysaccharide hydrogels have garnered attention for their biocompatibility , antimicrobial properties, and ability to aid in hemostasis . This study presents the development of a multi-functional, bi-dynamic network hydrogel for the treatment of wounds infected with bacteria. The hydrogel consists of a backbone of chitosan grafted with chlorogenic acid (CA-ECS), oxidized pullulan polysaccharides (OP), and zinc ions (Zn 2+ ). The CA-ECS/OP/Zn 2+ hydrogel displayed strong adhesion, good injectability, and high mechanical strength and was biodegradable and biocompatible. Furthermore, adding Zn 2+ and CA enhanced the hydrogel's mechanical properties and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. In a rat model of full-thickness skin wounds infected with S. aureus , the CA-ECS/OP/Zn 2+ hydrogel demonstrated great anti-inflammatory, angiogenic, and folliculogenic properties, resulting in accelerated wound healing. The CA-ECS/OP/Zn 2+ hydrogel has great potential for treating bacterial-infected wounds.