Tea Tree Oil‐Loaded Chitosan Hydrogels for Enhanced Wound Healing and Antimicrobial Activity

Abstract Chitosan hydrogels are cost‐effective, biocompatible, and exhibit antibacterial properties, making them ideal carrier systems for plant‐based natural oils. Tea tree oil, known for its antioxidant and antibacterial activities, is derived from Melaleuca alternifolia L. The aim of this study is to perform a molecular docking analysis of tea tree oil, successfully incorporate it into chitosan hydrogels, characterize the hydrogels, evaluate their effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in vitro, and assess their impact on wound healing in an in vivo wound model. Tea tree oil‐loaded chitosan hydrogels demonstrated dose‐dependent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli . Furthermore, these hydrogels significantly accelerated wound healing. Molecular docking analysis revealed that all major compounds in tea tree oil, except for Myrcene, exhibited higher binding affinity to 1JIJ and 6KZX proteins compared to gentamicin.