Construction of Chitosan/Genipin-Based Bioactive Hydrogels With Antioxidant and Antibacterial Effects for Infection Management and Chronic Wound Healing

Bacterial infections and reactive oxygen species induce inflammation, damaging healthy tissues surrounding the wound and leading to delayed wound healing. Therefore, designing and developing a bioactive hydrogel with excellent antioxidant capacity and antibacterial activity is critically important. In this study, a series of adhesive, antioxidant, and antibacterial hydrogels with desirable properties were developed through the simple mixing of three natural extracts: tannic acid, chitosan, and genipin. DPPH radical scavenging assays and antibacterial tests demonstrated that the incorporation of tannic acid endowed the hydrogels with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Compression tests and cytotoxicity evaluations revealed that the chitosan/genipin gel network exhibited favorable mechanical properties and biocompatibility. In full-thickness wounds of Sprague–Dawley rats, the hydrogel significantly accelerated wound healing. Overall, this bioactive hydrogel holds significant potential for infection control and chronic wound healing applications.