Dynamic covalent injectable, self-healing and antibacterial PVA/gelatin/oxidized CMC hydrogel for infected diabetic wound repair

The prevention of wound infection remains a critical area of research in the clinical management of diabetic wounds. Antibacterial hydrogel possesses the ability to present bacterial infections and promote faster wound healing. Here, gelatin (Gel) modified with phenylboronic acid (PBA) and carbo-di-hydrazide (CDH), was combined with oxidized carboxymethyl cellulose (OCMC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to constructed a multifunctional composite hydrogel with antibacterial drug, Imidazolium Chloride (Im-Cl). This hydrogel integrates injectability, self-healing properties, pH/glucose dual stimulus-responsive characteristics, and tissue adhesion, demonstrating favorable mechanical strength, biodegradability, and optimal biocompatibility. Notably, in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the PVA/PBA-Gel-CDH/OCMC@Im-Cl hydrogel could effectively killed bacterial, enhanced formation of new skin tissue, improved collagen distributions and accelerated wound healing. Collectively, this novel hydrogel provides a promising strategy for the treatment of infected diabetic wounds in clinical application.