Single-Step Engineered Gelatin-Based Hydrogel for Integrated Prevention of Postoperative Adhesion and Promotion of Wound Healing

Postoperative adhesion remains a major clinical challenge, often leading to chronic pain, functional disorders, and recurrent surgeries. Herein, we developed a multifunctional gelatin-polyphenol hydrogel (GPP20) featuring rapid gelation (within 5 min), strong tissue adhesion (lasting > 24 h under physiological conditions), and intrinsic wound healing capacity to achieve integrated prevention of postoperative adhesion. GPP20 was fabricated via dynamic crosslinking between gelatin and tea polyphenol, endowing it with injectability, self-healing, biodegradability, and excellent mechanical properties (shear stress of 14.2 N). In vitro studies demonstrated that GPP20 exhibited effective ROS scavenging (82% ABTS scavenging capability), which protects cells against oxidative stress, while possessing excellent hemocompatibility and in vivo safety. Notably, GPP20 significantly reduced postoperative cecum-abdominal wall adhesions through both physical barrier effects and modulation of inflammation and collagen deposition, demonstrating a comprehensive integrated prevention strategy. Furthermore, in full-thickness wound models, GPP20 accelerated tissue regeneration (85% wound closure rate on day 10) by promoting macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype and stimulating angiogenesis, thereby enhancing collagen deposition and re-epithelialization. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that GPP20 integrates anti-adhesion efficacy with regenerative support, offering a facile and clinically translatable strategy for postoperative care and wound healing.