Zn2+-Loaded adhesive bacterial cellulose hydrogel with angiogenic and antibacterial abilities for accelerating wound healing

Abstract Background Wound healing is a process that requires angiogenesis and antibacterial activities and it remains a challenge for both experimental and clinical research worldwide. Zn2+ has been reported to be widely involved in angiogenesis and exerts antibacterial effects, making it suitable as a treatment to promote wound healing. Therefore Zn2+-loaded adhesive bacterial cellulose hydrogel was designed to observe its angiogenic and antibacterial abilities in the wound healing process. Methods The characterization, tensile strength, swelling behaviors and antibacterial activity of bacterial cellulose/polydopamine/zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (BC/PDA/ZIF8) hydrogels were tested. Cell-Counting-Kit-8 (CCK8), transwell, tube formation and real time qunantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) assays were performed to evaluate the cell compatibility of BC/PDA/ZIF8 hydrogels in vitro. A full-thickness defect wound model and histological assays were used to evaluate the BC/PDA/ZIF8 hydrogels in vivo. Results The prepared BC/PDA/ZIF8 hydrogels exhibited suitable mechanical strength, excellent swelling properties, good tissue adhesion, efficient angiogenic and antibacterial effects and good performance as a physical barrier. In vivo experiments showed that the BC/PDA/ZIF8 hydrogels accelerated wound healing in a full-thickness defect wound model by stimulating angiogenesis. Conclusions This study proved that BC/PDA/ZIF8 hydrogels possess great potential for promoting satisfactory wound healing in full-thickness wound defects through antibacterial effects and improved cell proliferation, tissue formation, remodeling and re-epithelialization.