Design of an Interpenetrating Polymeric Network Hydrogel Made of Calcium-Alginate from a Thermos-Sensitive Pluronic Template as a Thermal-Ionic Reversible Wound Dressing.

Hsiao-Ying Chou,Juin-Yih Lai,Shuian-Yin Lin,Chang-Chih Weng,Hsieh-Chih Tsai

doi:10.3390/polym12092138

Abstract

Polymer-based hydrogels demonstrate superior performance when used as wound dressing. An ideal dressing should possess an active healing function, absorb wound exudates, and provide a moist interface on the wound for rapid injury repair and the prevention of pain and injury during replacement of the dressing. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop a novel, reversible, smart, interpenetrating polymeric network (IPN) by utilizing the thermosensitive network of pluronic F127 (PF127) as a template to regulate the conformation of calcium-ion-crosslinked alginate. We found that the IPN hydrogels formed soft and elastic thermosensitive networks, retaining their form even after absorbing a large amount of wound exudate. The exterior of the hydrogels was made up of a rigid calcium alginate network that supported the entire hydrogel, promoting the stability of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) payload and controlling its release when the hydrogel was applied topically to wounds. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the layered structure of the hydrogel, which was found to easily disintegrate even after moderate rinsing of the wound with cold phosphate-buffered saline. Taken together, these results show that the IPN hydrogel developed in this study could be a promising delivery platform for growth factors to accelerate wound healing.

Highlights

Cutaneous wound healing is a complex physiological process comprising three main phases: inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling [1,2,3]
The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), one of the most potent pro-angiogenic cytokines, stimulates signaling in endothelial cells, chemotaxis, and angiogenesis [8,9]
Previous studies have demonstrated the up-regulation of VEGF within keratinocytes of skin wounds [10] and the resultant capillary formation [11,12,13]

Summary

Introduction

Cutaneous wound healing is a complex physiological process comprising three main phases: inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling [1,2,3]. In addition to the initial wound closure, wound healing is facilitated by a dressing that covers the injury and possesses an active healing function with coordinated recruitment of various angiogenic growth. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), one of the most potent pro-angiogenic cytokines, stimulates signaling in endothelial cells, chemotaxis, and angiogenesis [8,9]. For effective treatment of serious wounds, the combination of suitable materials of the wound dressing and growth factors has to be optimized to achieve synergistic potency. Hydrogels have recently received much attention as appealing biomaterials that could serve as effective wound dressings by absorbing exudate fluid, creating a moist interface on the wound for better healing, and possessing a flexibility similar to that of human tissue [16,17]

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Discussion

Conclusion