Oxidized Dextran/Carboxymethyl Chitosan Dynamic Schiff-Base Hydrogel for Sustained Hydrogen Sulfide Delivery and Burn Wound Microenvironment Remodeling.

Background

Polysaccharide-based dynamic hydrogels are promising for wound management due to their biocompatibility, injectability, and tunable biofunctionality. The integration of therapeutic gasotransmitter donors offers a strategy to modulate the wound microenvironment.

Objectives

This study aimed to develop an injectable, self-healing carbohydrate hydrogel capable of sustained hydrogen sulfide (H2S) release for burn wound therapy, and to evaluate its physicochemical properties, in vivo efficacy, and mechanism of action.

Methods

A dynamic hydrogel (ACMOD) was fabricated via Schiff-base crosslinking between oxidized dextran (OD) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS), incorporating the H2S donor 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione (ADT-OH). Rheological and recovery tests characterized its mechanical and self-healing properties. Efficacy and mechanisms were assessed in a rat full-thickness burn model, analyzing wound closure, histology, oxidative stress, macrophage polarization, angiogenesis, and collagen deposition.

Results

ACMOD exhibited shear-thinning, rapid self-healing, and strong tissue adherence. Sustained H2S release from ACMOD significantly accelerated wound closure and improved tissue regeneration compared to controls. Mechanistically, H2S attenuated oxidative stress, promoted a pro-regenerative M2 macrophage phenotype, enhanced angiogenesis via VEGF upregulation, and fostered organized collagen deposition and extracellular matrix remodeling.

Conclusions

This work demonstrates a versatile, carbohydrate-based dynamic hydrogel platform that synergizes polymer network dynamics with bioactive H2S delivery to effectively promote burn wound healing. The findings underscore the potential of polysaccharide hydrogels with integrated gasotransmitter release for regenerative therapy and biomaterials applications.