Functionalization of Gauze with Polyphenol-Based Hydrogels for Infected Wound Healing

Infected wounds pose a significant clinical challenge due to complex pathophysiological barriers such as bacterial colonization, dysregulated inflammation, and impaired tissue regeneration. Conventional cotton gauze lacks bioactive functionality, while common hydrogel dressings compromise gas exchange, which is essential for wound healing. To address these limitations, we designed a hydrogel-functionalized gauze by assembling a carboxymethyl chitosan-tannic acid (CMCS-TA) hydrogel film onto the porous medical gauze, followed by the in situ reduction of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on the surface of the fiber. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was encapsulated within the hydrogels to obtain the multifunctional GCTAgV. The hierarchical architecture synergistically merges the superior structure of gauze with the bioactivities of hydrogels. Consequently, the GCTAgV demonstrated excellent hemostatic efficiency, antibacterial activity, potent reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, and enhanced angiogenesis performance <i>in vitro</i>. Furthermore, <i>in vivo</i> studies have shown that GCTAgV significantly accelerates infected wound healing. This versatile strategy establishes a scalable platform for advanced skin regeneration therapies.