Local causes of slow wound healing include infection and wound hemorrhage. Using sodium bicarbonate as a neutralizer, a variety of carboxymethyl chitosan-tannic acid (CMC-TA) composite hydrogels solidify through hydrogen bonding in this study. The best-performing hydrogel was synthesized by altering the concentration of TA and exhibited remarkable mechanical properties and biocompatibility. Following in vitro characterization tests, the CMC-TA hydrogel exhibited remarkable antibacterial and antioxidant properties, as well as quick hemostasis capabilities. In the in vivo wound healing study, the results showed that the CMC-TA hydrogel could relieve inflammation and promote the recovery of skin incision, re-epithelialization, and collagen deposition. Overall, this multifunctional hydrogel could be an ideal wound dressing for the clinical therapy of full-thickness wounds.
Keywords: antioxidant; carboxymethyl chitosan; hemostasis; tannic acid; wound healing.