Hydrogel Wound Dressings Research Articles

3D Printing of pH Indicator Auxetic Hydrogel Skin Wound Dressing.

The benefits of enclosing pH sensors into wound dressings include treatment monitoring of wounded skin and early detection of developing chronic conditions, especially for diabetic patients. A 3D printed re-entrant auxetic hydrogel wound dressing, doped with pH indicator phenol red dye, was developed and characterized. The re-entrant auxetic design allows wound dressing adhesion to complex body parts, such as joints on arms and legs. Tensile tests revealed a yield strength of 140 kPa and Young's modulus of 78 MPa. In addition, the 3D-printed hydrogel has a swelling capacity of up to 14%, limited weight loss to 3% in six days, and porosity of near 1.2%. A reasonable pH response resembling human skin pH (4-10) was obtained and characterized. The integration of color-changing pH indicators allows patients to monitor the wound's healing process using a smartphone. In addition to the above, the mechanical properties and their dependence on post-processing were studied. The results show that the resin composition and the use of post-treatments significantly affect the quality and durability of the wound dressings. Finally, a poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) and water-based adhesive was developed and used to demonstrate the performance of the auxetic wound dressing when attached to moving body joints.

Chitosan and hyaluronic-based hydrogels could promote the infected wound healing

The most important function of skin is to prevent biological dehydration and protect internal structures from the environment. When a wound becomes infected, the bacteria cause a sustained inflammatory response at the infected site, further delaying the healing process. Therefore, the search for better antibacterial strategies has become a topic of great concern. Therefore, the development of multifunctional hydrogels with antibacterial properties, ROS removal, and hemostasis is urgently required for promoting wound healing process. Chitosan is the only cationic natural polysaccharide with good biocompatibility, antibacterial and hemostatic ability. It is a candidate material to prepare hydrogel wound dressing. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural biological macromolecule that belongs to a group of heteropolysaccharides known as non-sulfated glycosaminoglycans. It is a major component of the skin extracellular matrix (ECM) and is involved in inflammation, angiogenesis, and tissue regeneration. Here, the hydrogel was designed with the natural macromolecular of the gallic acid-grafted quaternized chitosan (GA-QCS) and oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA) via Schiff base and/or Michael addition reaction. It was found that the GA-QCS/OHA hydrogel exhibited multifunctional capabilities with injectable, hemostasis, degradation, and release of medicines. In addiation, GA-QCS/OHA hydrogels exhibited remarkable antioxidant and migration promoting effects in vitro. And the mupirocin-loaded GA-QCS/OHA hydrogels had inhibitory effects on E. coli (Gram-negative bacterium) and S. aureus (Gram-positive bacterium) in vitro. A full-thickness skin of S. aureus infection mouse wound model was used to test the bioactive effect of the hydrogels and the accelerated wound healing was obtained due to the inhibiting the proinflammatory factor TNF-α and upregulating the vascularization factor CD31. This study proposed an effective strategy based on antioxidant, antibacterial, self-healing multifunctional hydrogel for wound healing under various infectious complications. This natural macromolecular hydrogel could act as an effective reactive oxygen species scavenger to promote the wound healing in the future.

State of the Art of Hydrogel Wound Dressings Developed by Ionizing Radiation.

The development of an ideal hydrogel wound dressing with excellent characteristics is currently a significant demand in wound therapy. The ideal hydrogel wound dressing must provide a moist environment between the wound and the dressing, promote wound healing, absorb excess exudate and toxins, be completely sterile, and not adhere to the wound. The evolution and current status of research on hydrogel wound dressings obtained exclusively through production by ionizing radiation are discussed in this paper review, along with the preparation methods, properties, standard characterization techniques, and their applications in wound dressing. First, we described the methods for synthesizing hydrogel wound dressings with ionizing radiation. Then, standard methods of characterization of hydrogel wound dressings such as gel fraction, swelling degree, sol-gel analysis, rheological properties, morphology, moisture retention capability, and water vapor transmission rate have been investigated. In the end, specific attention was paid to the drug release, antibacterial performance, and cytotoxicity of hydrogels. Moreover, the application of hydrogel in regenerative medicine as wound healing dressing was covered.

In situ formed scaffold with royal jelly-derived extracellular vesicles for wound healing.

Background: Safe and effective wound healing can be a major clinical challenge. Inflammation and vascular impairment are two main causes of inadequate wound healing. Methods: Here, we developed a versatile hydrogel wound dressing, comprising a straightforward physical mixture of royal jelly-derived extracellular vesicles (RJ-EVs) and methacrylic anhydride modified sericin (SerMA), to accelerate wound healing by inhibiting inflammation and promoting vascular reparation. Results: The RJ-EVs showed satisfactory anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, and significantly promoted L929 cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Meanwhile, the photocrosslinked SerMA hydrogel with its porous interior structure and high fluidity made it a good candidate for wound dressing. The RJ-EVs can be gradually released from the SerMA hydrogel at the wound site, ensuring the restorative effect of RJ-EVs. In a full-thickness skin defect model, the SerMA/RJ-EVs hydrogel dressing accelerated wound healing with a healing rate of 96.8% by improving cell proliferation and angiogenesis. The RNA sequencing results further revealed that the SerMA/RJ-EVs hydrogel dressing was involved in inflammatory damage repair-related pathways including recombinational repair, epidermis development, and Wnt signaling. Conclusion: This SerMA/RJ-EVs hydrogel dressing offers a simple, safe and robust strategy for modulating inflammation and vascular impairment for accelerated wound healing.

Characterization of a Novel Packaged Hydrogel Wound Dressing by 2.35 T Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Hydrogel wound dressing makes easier the treatment of patients suffering from difficult wounds. A new process for the manufacturing of a sterile, packaged hydrogel wound dressing, based on an interpenetrating structure of calcium alginate, agar, and polyvinylpyrrolidone, was recently developed. The new formulation overtakes some previous technologies’ drawbacks expressing a better resistance to mechanical deformations compared to products on the market. In this work, the 2.35 T proton density, spin-lattice relaxation time, spin-spin relaxation time, phase-coherence relaxation, and water apparent diffusion coefficient analysis in the new hydrogel and several alternative formulations, including a commercial one (Neoheal®), are reported. Specifically, the combination of agar, acting as a thermolabile forming agent, with calcium alginate and γ irradiated polyvinylpyrrolidone, acting, respectively, as physical, and chemical crosslinking agents with an irreversible (temperature independent) effect, have been investigated. The new hydrogel formulation brings a qualitative improvement in its handling due to its increased mechanical stiffness when compared to the commercial hydrogel reference. This comes together with a reduced water content (100 vs. 112 for proton density in arbitrary units) and swelling capacity (88% vs. 124%) but with improved water mobility (1.42 vs. 1.34 × 10−3 mm2 s−1 for the apparent diffusion coefficient).

Carboxymethyl chitosan/sodium carboxymethyl cellulose/agarose hydrogel dressings containing silk fibroin/polydopamine nanoparticles for antibiotic delivery

Herein, biocompatible and biodegradable hydrogel wound dressings were fabricated based on carboxymethyl chitosan/sodium carboxymethyl cellulose/agarose (CMC/SCMC/agarose). Simultaneously, three different nanoparticles including silk fibroin nanoparticles (SFNPs), SFNPs modified with Polydopamine (SFNPs@PDA), and SFNPs blended with Polydopamine (SFPDA NPs) were synthesized, loaded with Ciprofloxacin, and then incorporated into the hydrogel. The size and electrical charge of nanoparticles were increased by adding PDA polymer. The drug loading was nearly 63.67, 74.3, and 80.74% for SFNPs, SFNPs@PDA, and SFPDA NPs, respectively. More drug release (up to 75%) was observed for NPs containing PDA at alkaline pH compared with natural (⁓55%) and acidic (⁓50%) conditions. More than 80% bioactivity of the released antibiotic was preserved that was effective in inhibiting the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Furthermore, the appropriate physicochemical properties and cellular responses of hydrogel containing various nanoparticles supported the proliferation and growth of the fibroblast cells. Taken together, the results suggested that this hydrogel would be a promising structure to treat wound infection.

Current Progress and Outlook of Nano-Based Hydrogel Dressings for Wound Healing.

Wound dressing is an important tool for wound management. Designing wound dressings by combining various novel materials and drugs to optimize the peri-wound environment and promote wound healing is a novel concept. Hydrogels feature good ductility, high water content, and favorable oxygen transport, which makes them become some of the most promising materials for wound dressings. In addition, nanomaterials exhibit superior biodegradability, biocompatibility, and colloidal stability in wound healing and can play a role in promoting healing through their nanoscale properties or as carriers of other drugs. By combining the advantages of both technologies, several outstanding and efficient wound dressings have been developed. In this paper, we classify nano-based hydrogel dressings into four categories: hydrogel dressings loaded with a nanoantibacterial drug; hydrogel dressings loaded with oxygen-delivering nanomedicines; hydrogel dressings loaded with nanonucleic acid drugs; and hydrogel dressings loaded with other nanodelivered drugs. The design ideas, advantages, and challenges of these nano-based hydrogel wound dressings are reviewed and analyzed. Finally, we envisaged possible future directions for wound dressings in the context of relevant scientific and technological advances, which we hope will inform further research in wound management.

Facile preparation of polyphenol-crosslinked chitosan-based hydrogels for cutaneous wound repair

The design and facile preparation of the smart hydrogel wound dressings with inherent excellent antioxidant and antibacterial capacity to effectively promote wound healing processes is highly desirable in clinical applications. Herein, a series of multifunctional hydrogels were prepared by the dynamic Schiff base and boronate ester crosslinking among phenylboronic acid (PBA) grafted carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS), polyphenols and Cu2+-crosslinked polyphenol nanoparticles (CuNPs). The dynamic crosslinking bonds endowed hydrogels with excellent self-healing and degradable properties. Three polyphenols including tannic acid (TA), oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC) and (−)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) contributed to the outstanding antibacterial and antioxidant abilities of these hydrogels. The tissue adhesive capacity of hydrogels gave them good hemostatic effect. Through a full-thickness skin defect model of mice, these biocompatible hydrogels could accelerate wound healing processes by promoting granulation tissue formation, collagen deposition, M2 macrophage polarization and cytokine secretion, demonstrating that these natural-derived hydrogels with inherent physiological properties and low-cost preparation approaches could be promising dressing materials.

Quarternized chitosan/quercetin/polyacrylamide semi-interpenetrating network hydrogel with recoverability, toughness and antibacterial properties for wound healing

Antibiotic abuse has posed enormous burdens on patients and healthcare systems. Hence, the design and development of non-antibiotic wound dressings to meet clinical demand are urgently desired. However, there remains one of the impediments to hydrogel wound dressings that integrated with good recoverability, toughness, and excellent antibacterial properties. Herein, a series of semi-interpenetrating network (semi-IPN) hydrogels with exceptional mechanical performance and remarkable antibacterial activity based on quaternized chitosan (QCS) and polyacrylamide (PAM) were developed using a one-pot method. Additionally, the antibacterial activity of semi-IPN hydrogel against S. aureus and E. coli was enhanced by integrating it with quercetin (QT). The semi-IPN hydrogels also exhibited high recoverability and toughness, outstanding liquid absorbability (the swelling ratio reached 565 ± 12 %), and a satisfying water vapor transmission rate. Moreover, the semi-IPN hydrogels presented ideal hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility. These high-elastic hydrogels are promising candidates for potential applications in wound dressing, tissue repair, chronic wound care, as well as other biomedical fields.

Enzymatic one-pot preparation of carboxylmethyl chitosan-based hydrogel with inherent antioxidant and antibacterial properties for accelerating wound healing

Facile preparation of multifunctional hydrogel wound dressings with inherent versatile properties is highly desirable in practical healthcare. Here, a biocompatible hydrogel was designed and fabricated via mild enzymatic crosslinking and polymerization. We first designed an enzymatic system containing horseradish peroxidase (HRP), H2O2, and the macromolecular initiator—acetoacetyl polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-ACAC), which can generate active PVA-ACAC carbon radicals via HRP-mediated oxidation by H2O2. Trimethylammonium chloride (Q), methacryloyl (MA) and phenol (Ph)-grafted carboxymethyl chitosan (Ph-QCMCS-MA) was then synthesized. HRP catalyzes the oxidation of phenol groups to achieve the fast phenol crosslinking, and PVA-ACAC carbon radicals initiate the polymerization of MA groups simultaneously, finally obtaining the target PPQM gel. The quaternary ammonium and phenol groups endow the PPQM gel with excellent antibacterial and antioxidant properties, respectively. This multifunctional hydrogel, which has additional adhesive and hemostatic properties, could promote wound healing processes in an in vivo full-thickness skin defect experiment by reducing the generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6) and upregulating anti-inflammatory factors (IL-10) and angiogenesis-related cytokines (VEGF and α-SMA). As a result, it could be used as competitive wound dressings.

Smart 3D Printed Auxetic Hydrogel Skin Wound Dressings.

Wound healing is a huge challenge worldwide causing enormous financial burden on healthcare systems. Although conventional wound dressings, such as hydrogels, bandages, and foams, facilitate wound healing, they lack the ability to monitor the wound healing process. Here, hydrogel wound dressings in the form of auxetic structures were developed by a digital light processing (DLP) printer. Paper-based colorimetric sensors were incorporated with the 3D printed auxetic hydrogel skin wound patches for monitoring the wound status through detecting pH levels and glucose concentrations. The paper-based sensors are profoundly cost-effective and were found to be capable of monitoring the wound's conditions. The developed wound dressings may assist in preventing escalation of the acute wounds into chronic stages in diabetics.

Controlled release of protein from gelatin/chitosan hydrogel containing platelet-rich fibrin encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles for accelerated wound healing in an animal model

The physiological healing process is disrupted in many cases using the current wound healing procedures, resulting in delayed wound healing. Hydrogel wound dressings provide a moist environment to enhance granulation tissue and epithelium formation in the wound area. However, exudate accumulation, bacterial proliferation, and reduced levels of growth factors are difficulties of hydrogel dressings. Here, we loaded platelet-rich fibrin-chitosan (CH-PRF) nanoparticles into the gelatin-chitosan hydrogel (Gel-CH/CH-PRF) by solvent mixing method. Our goal was to evaluate the characteristics of hydrogel dressings, sustained release of proteins from the hydrogel dressing containing PRF, and reduction in the risk of infection by the bacteria in the wound area. The Gel-CH/CH-PRF hydrogel showed excellent swelling behavior, good porosity, proper specific surface area, high absorption of wound exudates, and proper vapor permeability rate (2023 g/m 2.day), which provided requisite moisture without dehydration around the wound area. Thermal behavior and the protein release from the hydrogels were investigated using simultaneous thermal analysis and the Bradford test, respectively. Most importantly, an excellent ability to control the release of proteins from the hydrogel dressings was observed. The high antimicrobial activity of hydrogel was confirmed using Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Due to the presence of chitosan in the hydrogels, the lowest scavenging capacity-50 value (5.82 μgmL−1) and the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (83 %) at a concentration 25 μgmL−1 for Gel-CH/CH-PRF hydrogel were observed. Also, the hydrogels revealed excellent cell viability and proliferation. The wound healing process was studied using an in vivo model of the full-thickness wound. The wound closure was significantly higher on Gel-CH/CH-PRF hydrogel compared to the control group, indicating the highest epidermis thickness, and enhancing the formation of new granulation tissue. Our findings demonstrated that Gel-CH/CH-PRF hydrogel can provide an ideal wound dressing for accelerated wound healing.

Alginate-Chitosan Hydrogel Formulations Sustain Baculovirus Delivery and VEGFA Expression Which Promotes Angiogenesis for Wound Dressing Applications.

Hydrogel wound dressings are effective in their ability to provide a wound-healing environment but are limited by their ability to promote later stages of revascularization. Here, a biosafe recombinant baculovirus expressing VEGFA tagged with EGFP is encapsulated in chitosan-coated alginate hydrogels using ionic cross-linking. The VEGFA, delivered by the baculovirus, significantly improves cell migration and angiogenesis to assist with the wound-healing process and revascularization. Moreover, the hydrogels have an encapsulation efficiency of 99.9%, no cytotoxicity, antimicrobial properties, good blood compatibility, promote hemostasis, and enable sustained delivery of baculoviruses over eight days. These hydrogels sustain baculovirus delivery and may have clinical implications in wound dressings or future gene therapy applications.

Dynamic Double Cross-Linked Self-Healing Polysaccharide Hydrogel Wound Dressing Based on Schiff Base and Thiol-Alkynone Reactions.

In this study, a hydrogel composite wound dressing with antibacterial and self-healing ability was prepared using cysteine-modified carboxymethyl chitosan, sodium oxidized alginate, and but-3-yn-2-one base on Schiff base and thiol-alkynone double cross-links. The structure and properties of the hydrogel were characterized by scanning electron microscope, Fourier-transform infrared, and rheological test, followed by antibacterial and in vivo biocompatibility tests. The results showed that the hydrogel exhibited good self-healing, mechanical properties, good antibacterial effect, and in vivo biocompatibility, and can inhibit inflammation and promote skin tissue regeneration in mice. This novel self-healing hydrogel dressing has a broad application prospect in skin tissue engineering.

Design of moxifloxacin encapsulated network hydrogel wound dressings: Evaluation of polymer‐drug, polymer‐blood, and polymer‐bio membrane interactions

AbstractIt is an exploration of the inherent wound‐healing tendency of Azadirachta indica gum (AIG) or neem gum polysaccharides to develop the hydrogel wound dressings with enhanced potential during wound management. Herein this research work, antibiotic moxifloxacin encapsulated AIG network copolymeric hydrogels were developed by functionalizing with carbapol and poly(acrylamide) [poly(AAm)] for better wound healing. The polymer‐drug, polymer‐blood, and polymer‐bio membrane interactions were evaluated in biomedical properties. The copolymeric network structure was confirmed by scanning electron micrographs (SEMs), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and 13C solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The results confirmed sustained release of the moxifloxacin with diffusion by non‐Fickian process and Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetic model in the phosphate buffer saline (PBS). These interactions inferred the blood‐compatible (hemolytic index 3.41 ± 0.70%) and mucoadhesive nature (polymer‐biomembrane detachment force 0.09 ± 0.01 mN) of hydrogel dressing. The per gram of hydrogel dressings absorbed 10.22 ± 0.23 g of simulated wound fluid which is very useful to maintain moist wound environment for better wound healing. All these interactions and properties indicated the suitability of the hydrogel material for wound dressing applications for better wound care.

Alginate foam gel modified by graphene oxide for wound dressing

Recently, hydrogel dressings have been rapidly developed for wound healing. However, it is still a huge challenge to endow hydrogel wound dressings with excellent hemostatic performance. Here, a new wound treatment material, foam gel wound dressing, is reported, which possesses rapid hemostasis and antibacterial properties. The foam gel dressing is composed of chitooligosaccharide modified graphene oxide (CG) nanocomposites and calcium alginate foam substrate. In this system, CG has a strong interaction with platelets, which is helpful for rapid hemostasis. So the wound dressing could stop bleeding quickly within 10 s. Meanwhile, CG also provides excellent antibacterial properties to dressings, which is conducive to wound healing. Full-thickness wound healing experiments showed that compared with blank control and CG-free foam gel dressings, CG-loaded foam gel dressings shows better healing properties, and the wounds covered with them are almost completely healed within 12 days. In addition, histological morphology analysis displays CG-loaded wound dressing could significantly accelerate wound healing by reducing the inflammatory response and promoting vascular remodeling. This unique strategy provides a simple and practical method for the clinical application of the next generation of wound dressings.

One-pot preparation of hydrogel wound dressings from Bletilla Striata polysaccharide and polyurethane with dual network structure

Hydrogel wound dressings integrating Bletilla Striata Polysaccharide (BSP) are promising in clinical treatment because of their high hemostatic ability, high absorption to exudates, softness, non-toxicity, and non-irritating property. However, complex procedures are always needed to fabricate such hydrogels. Herein, a one-pot method is proposed to prepare hydrogel wound dressings integrating BSP by simply mixing the BSP aqueous solution with isocyanate terminated polyurethane. During mixing, the BSP macromolecules function as a chemical crosslinker by reacting with the terminal isocyanate groups of the polyurethane chains. Moreover, the urea groups newly formed facilitate the intermolecular hydrogen bonding and the formation of a physical network. The results of in vivo and in vitro experiments indicate that the PUB hydrogel dressings can rapidly absorb tissue exudates and have good retention ability. Furthermore, the hydrogels can remove radicals, promote blood coagulation, and have good biocompatibility. Most importantly, the PUB hydrogel dressings show excellent ability in promoting wound healing. Compared to the conventional gauze, the wound surface area of mice treated with PUB hydrogel is significantly reduced on day 3 after surgery, and there are more newly grown capillaries, lymphatics, and sweat glands in the PUB group.

A fucoidan-gelatin wound dressing accelerates wound healing by enhancing antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities

Microbial infections and the slow regression of inflammation are major impediments to wound healing. Herein, a tilapia fish skin gelatin-fucose gum-tannic acid (Gel&Fuc-TA) hydrogel wound dressing (Gel&Fuc-TA) was designed to promote wound healing by mixing and reacting tannic acid (TA) with tilapia fish skin gelatin (Gel) and fucoidan (Fuc). Gel&Fuc-TA hydrogel has a good network structure as well as swelling and release properties, and shows excellent antibacterial, antioxidant, cell compatibility, and hemostatic properties. Gel&Fuc-TA hydrogel can promote the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD-31), and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), enhance collagen deposition, and accelerate wound repair. Gel&Fuc-TA hydrogel can change the wound microbiome, reduce wound microbiome colonization, and decrease the expression of microbiome-related proinflammatory factors, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Gel&Fuc-TA hydrogel effectively regulates the conversion of wound macrophages to the M2 (anti-inflammatory phenotype) phenotype, decreases the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and increases the expression of arginase-1 (Arg-1), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), thereby reducing the inflammatory response. In summary, Gel&Fuc-TA hydrogel prepared using a rational green cross-linking reaction can effectively accelerate wound healing.

Development of Polyphenol-Functionalized Gelatin-Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) IPN for Potential Biomedical Applications.

Owing to their suitable physical and chemical properties, hydrogels have been considered a convenient choice for wound dressings because of the advantages that they offer, such as maintaining the moist environment required for wound healing. In this research, interpenetrating hydrogels of polyphenol-functionalized gelatin (GE), a water-soluble protein derived from natural polymer collagen with excellent biocompatibility, no immunogenicity, and hydrophilicity, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), a hydrophilic, non-toxic, biodegradable, biocompatible polymer that is soluble in many solvents, widely used in biomedical applications, particularly as a basic material for the manufacturing of hydrogel wound dressings, were synthesized. Gallic acid (GA) was selected in this work to study whether the interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) synthesized can provide antioxidant properties given that this material is intended to be used as a potential wound dressing. The obtained IPN hydrogels showed improved mechanical properties in comparison with pristine gelatin network (net-GE), a porous structure, and good thermal stability for biological applications. The antioxidant capacity of the IPNs functionalized with GA was compared to Trolox standards, obtaining a radical scavenging activity (RSA%) equivalent to a Trolox concentration of 400 µM.

Pullulan-Collagen Hydrogel Wound Dressing Promotes Dermal Remodeling and Wound Healing Compared to Commercially Available Collagen Dressings

PURPOSE: Developing new therapies to promote wound healing and mitigate scarring has the potential to significantly impact patient morbidity, particularly for those who suffer from chronic non-healing wounds and burns. The primary objectives for any therapy that aims to improve wound healing are to provide protection against external factors and to sustain optimal moisture levels within the wound bed. Biologic scaffolds such as hydrogels provide an ideal, physio-mimetic of native ECM that can improve wound healing outcomes after cutaneous injury. While most studies have focused on the benefits of hydrogels in accelerating wound healing, there is minimal data directly comparing the relative efficacies among different hydrogel material compositions. METHODS: In this study we utilized a splinted excisional wound model that recapitulates human-like wound healing in mice, and treated wounds with three different collagen hydrogel dressings. The first dressing was composed of 90% collagen and 10% alginate. The second dressing was composed of 55% collagen and 44% cellulose. Finally, the third dressing was composed of 5% collagen and 95% pullulan. We assessed the feasibility of applying each dressing during standard dressing changes and measured wound areas over time to determine the relative rate of wound closure. We then performed histologic and histopathologic analysis on the explanted scar tissues to assess the effects each hydrogel dressing on collagen architecture, fiber alignment, and cellular response. RESULTS: The days to closure of wounds treated the collagen-pullulan hydrogel (~11.2 days) was significantly shorter than the collagen-cellulose treated (~13.2 days; *p<0.05) and control (~13.8 days; *p<0.01) wounds. Quantitative analysis of collagen architecture demonstrated that collagen-pullulan treated wounds had a lower proportion of mature collagen within the healed scar and significantly more randomly aligned collagen fibers compared to collagen-cellulose treated wounds. Furthermore, we found that collagen-pullulan hydrogel treated wounds displayed significantly shorter fiber length and greater tissue porosity compared to the other wound groups. Finally, histopathologic analysis revealed lower levels of immune cell infiltration and overall tissue response in collagen-pullulan hydrogel treated wounds relative to other groups. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that the material composition of hydrogel dressings can significantly influence healing time, cellular response, and the resulting architecture of healed scars. Collagen-pullulan hydrogel therapy accelerated wound closure and promoted tissue with less dense, more randomly aligned, and shorter collagen fibers with lower collagen intensity, similar to the natural ‘basket-weave’ architecture of unwounded skin. Further understanding of how specific hydrogel properties affect healing and the resulting tissue architecture of wounds may lead to novel insights and further optimization of the material properties of wound dressings.