Bioresponsive supramolecular hydrogels for hemostasis, infection control and accelerated dermal wound healing

J Mater Chem B. 2020 Sep 30;8(37):8585-8598. doi: 10.1039/d0tb01468k.

Abstract

Injectable, drug-releasing hydrogel scaffolds with multifunctional properties including hemostasis and anti-bacterial activity are essential for successful wound healing; however, designing ideal materials is still challenging. Herein, we demonstrate the fabrication of a biodegradable, temperature-pH dual responsive supramolecular hydrogel (SHG) scaffold based on sodium alginate/poly(N-vinyl caprolactam) (AG/PVCL) through free radical polymerization and the subsequent chemical and ionic cross-linking. A natural therapeutic molecule, tannic acid (TA)-incorporated SHG (AG/PVCL-TA), was also fabricated and its hemostatic and wound healing efficiency were studied. In the AG/PVCL-TA system, TA acts as a therapeutic molecule and also substitutes as an effective gelation binder. Notably, the polyphenol-arm structure and diverse bonding abilities of TA can hold polymer chains through multiple bonding and co-ordinate cross-linking, which were vital in the formation of the mechanically robust AG/PVCL-TA. The SHG formation was successfully balanced by varying the composition of SA, VCL, TA and cross-linkers. The AG/PVCL-TA scaffold was capable of releasing a therapeutic dose of TA in a sustained manner under physiological temperature-pH conditions. AG/PVCL-TA displayed excellent free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and cell proliferation activity towards the 3T3 fibroblast cell line. The wound healing performance of AG/PVCL-TA was further confirmed in skin excision wound models, which demonstrated the potential application of AG/PVCL-TA for skin regeneration and rapid wound healing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alginates / chemistry
  • Alginates / toxicity
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / toxicity
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / toxicity
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use
  • Antioxidants / toxicity
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Caprolactam / analogs & derivatives
  • Caprolactam / chemistry
  • Caprolactam / toxicity
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Female
  • Hemostasis / drug effects*
  • Hydrogels / chemistry*
  • Hydrogels / toxicity
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Mice
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Polymers / toxicity
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Skin / pathology
  • Tannins / chemistry
  • Tannins / therapeutic use*
  • Tannins / toxicity
  • Temperature
  • Wound Healing / drug effects*

Substances

  • Alginates
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Hydrogels
  • Polymers
  • Tannins
  • poly-N-vinylcaprolactam
  • Caprolactam