l-Arginine carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogel releasing nitric oxide to improve wound healing

Chronic cutaneous wounds are characterised by poor wound healing, which may result in infection. The development of a wound dressing for the treatment of chronic wounds caused by diabetes remains a great challenge. Herein, we developed a hydrogel comprising l-arginine (LA) -modified carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CS), with antibacterial and nitric oxide-release properties, that accelerated wound healing by promoting vascular reconstruction. In addition to effective degradability and good biocompatibility, CMC-LA@CS hydrogel exhibited excellent inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus, owing to the presence of chitosan. Additionally, the hydrogels released NO, benefiting angiogenesis and promoting wound healing. This safe, antibacterial, and collaborative system has great potential for application in skin tissue engineering.