Injectable Multifunctional Chitosan‐Gallic Acid Hydrogel With Superior Adhesion and Antioxidant Properties for Advanced Wound Management

ABSTRACT Injectable antimicrobial hydrogel possesses tremendous potential in wound dressing applications for irregular and deep cutting wounds. In this study, a novel injectable multifunctional chitosan/gallic acid/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) hydrogel was prepared and its properties as a wound dressing were investigated. The prepared hydrogel demonstrated excellent adhesive strength, self‐healing capability, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity. The interpenetration of chitosan chains and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) matrices accounted for the robust network structure of the hydrogel. The presence of reversible hydrogen bonds within the hydrogel network provided remarkable injectability, exceptional adhesive properties (CPG‐3 hydrogel exhibits excellent adhesive properties), and efficient self‐healing characteristics. The as‐prepared hydrogel exhibited excellent hemocompatibility and potent antimicrobial efficacy against both Gram‐positive ( Staphylococcus aureus ) and Gram‐negative ( Escherichia coli ) bacterial strains. Combined with its superior adhesive strength and robust antimicrobial performance, the chitosan/gallic acid/PVP hydrogel demonstrates a promising potential for advanced tissue adhesion and wound management applications.