Self-contracting thermo-adhesive hydrogels with artesunate-loaded chitin/lignin micelles for accelerated wound healing

Due to the skin's limited self-repair capacity after injury, developing effective wound dressings is crucial to accelerate wound closure and enhance tissue regeneration. In the work, a thermo-sensitive and tissue-adhesive hydrogel with an interpenetrating polymer network (QGNPI) was fabricated by using N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), galactomannan, and chitin-lignin micelles. The abundant hydroxyl groups within galactomannan conferred enhanced adhesion properties to the hydrogel. To improve the stability of artesunate, it was encapsulated within the chitin-lignin micelles. Moreover, the QGNPI hydrogel exhibited excellent thermal responsiveness and strong tissue adhesion, enabling effective wound closure. It also demonstrated outstanding hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility, supporting its suitability for wound healing applications. In murine models, the QGNPI hydrogel functioned as an efficient sealant, achieving sutureless wound closure during initial healing. Moreover, it significantly accelerated tissue regeneration by reducing inflammatory cell infiltration, promoting organized collagen deposition, and stimulating robust angiogenesis. Collectively, these findings underscore the potential of QGNPI as a promising thermosensitive and adhesive hydrogel dressing for advanced wound management.