Chain entanglement-driven tough, fatigue-resistant PEG-based injectable hydrogel adhesive for joint skin wound healing

Abstract

The development of effective wound dressings that can withstand the frequent movement and stretching of joint skin wounds remains a significant challenge. Traditional wound dressings are prone to damage or shedding, which increases the risk of bacterial infection and delays wound healing. To address this issue, a new type of injectable, stretchable, low hysteresis, and fatigue-resistant hydrogel (LZM/PEG) adhesive has been designed for wound healing in movable parts. The hydrogel is formed through the flexible chain entanglement of high molecular weight polyethylene glycol functionalized by Succinimide Carbonate (SC-PEG-SC) and Amidation crosslinking between LZM-NH2 and SC-PEG-SC. The long-chain of SC-PEG-SC enables the hydrogel to penetrate the surface of the target tissue, generating physical entanglements and covalent bonds with functional groups in the matrix, enabling close fitting of joint skin and wound healing without the need of secondary fixation. In a neck trauma model of full-thickness skin defect in vivo, the hydrogel dressing significantly promoted wound healing with milder inflammation, higher granulation tissue thickness and collagen disposition, demonstrating its potential for joint skin wound treatment in clinics. Overall, the LZM/PEG hydrogel is capable of adapting to the frequent movement of joint, promoting healing of joint skin wounds, which makes it a promising approach for joint skin wound treatment.