Conductive, adaptive, multifunctional hydrogel combined with electrical stimulation for deep wound repair

Mechanism of Self-Healing Hydrogels and Application in Tissue Engineering

“…In tissue engineering, conductive biomaterials can promote intercellular signal transduction and current transmission from external electrical stimulation, promoting cell migration and angiogenesis. HuanLei et al [ 79 ] prepared this hydrogel by adding tannic acid (TA) and human-like collagen (HLC) into the dynamic cross-linking network of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and borax hydrogel, in which borax played the role of cross-linking agent and ionic conductor. The addition of HLC and TA changed the cross-linking density and pH value of hydrogels, thus adjusting the adaptability of the PVA-borax matrix and endowing it with hemostasis, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, cell proliferation, and collagen deposition.…”

Glucose and MMP-9 dual-responsive hydrogel with temperature sensitive self-adaptive shape and controlled drug release accelerates diabetic wound healing

“…Consequently, MMP-9 is regarded as a novel target for the treatment of chronic diabetic wounds [ 15 ]. In addition, another factor that affects the healing of diabetic wounds is the irregular shape of wounds after removing the necrotic tissues; traditional clinical dressings give rise to a higher risk of infection due to their quite unfitting shape of the irregular wounds [ [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] ]. Overall, it is necessary to develop a wound dressing that fully adapts to the wound shape as well as regulates the level of MMP-9 and glucose, thereby accelerating the healing of chronic diabetic wounds.…”

“…High concentration of glucose and MMP-9 are important factors hindering chronic diabetic wound healing [ 6 , 14 ], and the double-stimulus responsive drug-loaded hydrogel targeting glucose and MMP-9 is a promising dressing. Moreover, most drug-loaded hydrogels are hard to change their shape again after molding, indicating that they are not fully self-adaptive to ever-varying inner wound tissues, especially chronic diabetic foot wounds that are constantly deformed during movement [ 19 ]. Self-adaptive hydrogels, constructed based on the phenomenon of fluid quickly filling irregular containers, are a solution to the above issues [ 25 ].…”

“…Self-adaptive hydrogels, constructed based on the phenomenon of fluid quickly filling irregular containers, are a solution to the above issues [ 25 ]. However, the fluid-like and solid-like properties of traditional self-adaptive hydrogels, which consist of dynamic covalent bonds (such as borate bonds [ 19 , 26 ], Schiff base reactions [ 25 , 27 ]) or non-covalent bonds (such as hydrogen bonds) are difficult to balance. Self-adaptive hydrogels with more fluid-like properties are difficult to provide with enough mechanical properties (the cohesive force) to resist forces and protect the wounds; hydrogels with more solid-like properties cannot easily fill irregular deep wounds quickly.…”

A low-swelling and toughened adhesive hydrogel with anti-microbial and hemostatic capacities for wound healing

“…23 Unfortunately, the antibacterial properties of tannic acid are relatively weak. 39 SF is a natural protein extracted from silkworm cocoons and has natural hemostatic abilities. 40 When SF contacts with blood, it can activate coagulation factor XII in the blood, accelerate the endogenous coagulation process, and induce the production of thrombin, thus promoting hemostasis.…”