Bioactive Hydrogel Dressing with Inherent Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity for Wound Healing

Bacterial infection and oxidative stress are major hindrances to wound healing. Designing bioactive wound dressings with inherent antibacterial and antioxidant activities is highly desirable. Herein, a novel multifunctional hydrogel was synthesized via a Schiff-base reaction between the amino groups of sericin and the aldehyde moieties of 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzaldehyde (THBA). The resulting hydrogel exhibited stable mechanical strength, exceptional tissue adhesiveness, and good biocompatibility, along with porous structures, a high swelling ratio, suitable gelation time, and adjustable degradability. <i>In vitro</i> experiments confirmed its inherent antibacterial and antioxidant capabilities, while <i>in vivo</i> studies using a full-thickness skin wound model in mice revealed accelerated wound healing and enhanced collagen deposition. These findings collectively underscore the potential of the sericin/THBA (SeT) hydrogel as an advanced dressing for effective wound management.