A high strength multifunctional lignin-based hydrogel dressing with antibacterial, antioxidant, hemostatic and adhesive properties for wound healing

Developing multifunctional hydrogel wound dressings that integrate hemostasis, adhesion, antibacterial activity, mechanical robustness, and antioxidant properties remains a significant challenge. This study employed both curcumin and lignin to reduce silver ions in situ while simultaneously incorporating Callicarpa nudiflora into an acrylamide-acrylic acid (AM/AA) hydrogel system. Characterization techniques including FTIR, XRD, XPS, SEM, swelling tests, rheological measurements, and mechanical tests revealed that lignin and curcumin synergistically generate quinone free radicals, promoting the self-gelation of the AA/AM system and resulting in the formation of an Ag@Lig-Cur NPs/C.nudiflora-P (AM-AA) hydrogel. Furthermore, the incorporation of Callicarpa nudiflora and Ag@Lig-Cur NPs modulated both covalent and non-covalent interactions within the P(AM-AA) polymer network, endowing the hydrogel with an ultra-high tensile strain of 2100 %. The hydrogel also exhibited potent antibacterial efficacy, achieving inhibition rates of up to 99 % against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli , alongside a remarkable DPPH radical scavenging rate of 90 %, indicating superior antioxidant activity. Notably, the hydrogel demonstrated exceptional hemostatic performance, achieving complete control of hepatic hemorrhage within 30 s of application. In a mouse full-thickness skin defect model, the Ag@Lig-Cur NPs/C.nudiflora-P(AM-AA) hydrogel achieved an exceptional wound healing rate of 98.9 %, highlighting its significant potential as an advanced wound dressing material.