Microsphere-embedded gelatin-based hydrogel with self-healing, hemostatic, antioxidative, and antibacterial activity for wound healing

Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), bacterial infection and intense inflammation constitute key complications that hinder wound healing. Hydrogels have shown promising applications in wound management due to their high biocompatibility and adjustable functionality. However, the poor mechanical and self-healing properties of conventional hydrogel dressings can't meet the multifaceted demands of motion wounds. To address these issues, we designed and constructed a series of multifunctional microsphere-embedded gelatin-based dual-dynamic-bond cross-linked hydrogels (GPB hydrogels) via the formation of Schiff base bonds and borate ester bonds. These GPB hydrogels exhibited excellent self-healing and adhesive properties, and they also possessed good biocompatibility and certain hemostatic effects. Moreover, biological activity tests proved that the hydrogel owned excellent antibacterial and antioxidant activities and could reduce inflammatory responses. More importantly, the GPB hydrogels can effectively promote wound healing by accelerating the re-epithelialization and increasing collagen deposition, which showed great potential in the field of hydrogel wound dressings.