Quaternary ammonium carboxymethyl chitosan composite hydrogel with efficient antibacterial and antioxidant properties for promoting wound healing

Yahao Ma; Xujie Zhou; Zhendong Mo; Qing Zhou; Bingyu Hui; Zhuangzhuang Cai; Xiaoying Wang; Hang Li; Shunqing Tang

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131871

Quaternary ammonium carboxymethyl chitosan composite hydrogel with efficient antibacterial and antioxidant properties for promoting wound healing

Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 Apr 25;268(Pt 2):131871. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131871. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yahao Ma¹, Xujie Zhou¹, Zhendong Mo¹, Qing Zhou¹, Bingyu Hui¹, Zhuangzhuang Cai¹, Xiaoying Wang², Hang Li³, Shunqing Tang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
² Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China. Electronic address: wangxi@jnu.edu.cn.
³ Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China. Electronic address: hangli@jnu.edu.cn.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China. Electronic address: tshunqt@jnu.edu.cn.

PMID: 38677691
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131871

Abstract

Multifunctional hydrogels have been developed to meet the various requirements of wound healing. Herein, an innovative hydrogel (QCMC-HA-PEG) was formed through the Schiff base reaction, composed of quaternary ammonium-modified carboxymethyl chitosan (QCMC), hyaluronic acid (HA), and 8-arms Polyethylene Glycol aldehyde (8-ARM-PEG-CHO). The resulting hydrogels exhibited good mechanical and adhesive properties with improved antibacterial efficacy against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria compared to CMC hydrogels. QCMC-HA-PEG hydrogels demonstrated remarkable adhesive ability in lap-shear test. Furthermore, the incorporation of MnO₂ nanosheets into the hydrogel significantly enhanced its reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and oxygen generation capabilities. Finally, experimental results from a full-thickness skin wound model revealed that the QCMC-HA-PEG@MnO₂ hydrogel promoted skin epithelization, collagen deposition, and inflammatory regulation significantly accelerated the wound healing process. Therefore, QCMC-HA-PEG@MnO₂ hydrogel could be a promising wound dressing to promote wound healing.

Keywords: Adhesive; Antibacterial; Antioxidant; Hydrogel; Wound healing.