Natural Protein-Based Multifunctional Hydrogel Dressing Formed by Rapid Photocuring and Zinc Ion Coordination to Accelerate Wound Healing

Abstract

This study explores the use of chicken egg white (EW), a rich source of natural proteins, to address challenges in wound healing management. Herein, a novel Zn²⁺-infused EW/GelMA (EW/Gel) hybrid hydrogel is developed, featuring an interpenetrating network (IPN) structure, where the first network consists of photo-cross-linked GelMA and the second network consists of Zn²⁺-infused EW (Zn-EW) through ion–protein binding. By optimizing the design and formulation, the resulting Zn-EW/Gel hydrogel exhibited enhanced mechanical stability and self-adhesive properties. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the combined effects of functional proteins and active ions within the Zn-EW/Gel hydrogel promote fibroblast proliferation and type I collagen expression, modulate the immune microenvironment, and enhance angiogenesis. The hydrogel also demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and bioactivity in vivo, showing strong promise for restoring the physiological properties of the damaged wound tissue.