Preparation of a chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol-based dual-network hydrogel for use as a potential wound-healing material for the sustainable release of drugs

Abstract

Treating chronic wounds poses significant challenges in clinical medicine due to bacterial infection, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and excessive inflammation. This study aimed to address these issues by developing a wound dressing with antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Chitosan was functionally modified with acrolein to covalently bind to epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), enabling a high EGCG load. Subsequently, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and EGCG-modified chitosan were crosslinked to prepare a new double-network hydrogel with added cysteine (CSAEC/P50). CSAEC/P50 demonstrated optimal mechanical properties (low swelling rate, high water retention, and optimal flexibility), low hemolysis, high coagulation properties, and antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Cell scratch tests indicated that CSAEC/P50 can promote NIH3T3 cell migration. Immunofluorescence results showed that CSAEC/P50 promoted the transformation of proinflammatory M₁ macrophages to anti-inflammatory M₂ macrophages. These findings suggest that CSAEC/P50 has significant potential for use in wound dressing applications.