Efficacy of melanin-loaded lipoic acid-modified chitosan hydrogel in diabetic wound healing

The healing of diabetic wounds is significantly impeded due to severe oxidative stress and hindered angiogenesis, presenting a major challenge to clinical treatment. In this context, we introduces a novel hydrogel dressing strategy that uniquely combines α-lipoic acid-modified chitosan (LAMC) and melanin nanoparticles (MNPs). This innovative hydrogel, LAMC@MNPs, is formulated to gel under ultraviolet (UV) light without the need for a photoinitiator , simplifying the preparation process and potentially enhancing safety. Our experimental results demonstrate that the LAMC@MNPs hydrogel not only exhibits superior skin adhesion, with an average strength of 56.59 ± 3.16 KPa, but also effectively alleviates oxidative stress and accelerates vascular regeneration and wound healing . This is achieved by promoting cell migration and scavenging free radicals , addressing the critical barriers in diabetic wound care. The combination of these materials and their functional benefits presents a promising new approach to diabetic wound treatment.