Exudate Management, Facile Detachment, and Immunometabolism Regulation for Wound Healing Using Breathable Dressings

Developing breathable dressings with multifunctional properties (such as exudate management, easy removal, and immunometabolism regulation) presents significant challenges in wound healing. This study employs the Hofmeister effect to prepare a sodium citrate-cross-linked cryogel (CA-CS) with versatile functions, including porous and loose structures, rapid shape recovery ability, superior fatigue resistance behavior, and outstanding biocompatibility capabilities. The CA-CS cryogels demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory properties by reversing the lipopolysaccharides-induced M1 macrophages and increasing M2 macrophage percentages in vitro. Additionally, these breathable CA-CS cryogels exhibited superior hemostatic activity in vivo. The easily detachable CA-CS cryogels enhanced nutrient exchange, promoted exudate absorption, regulated immune response, and induced metabolic reprogramming, thereby supporting skin regeneration and hair follicle formation in a full-thickness skin defect mouse model. We expect that these CA-CS cryogels will drive the development of next-generation dressings for effective wound regeneration in clinical practice.