On-Demand Removable\nChitosan Based Self-Healing and\nAntibacterial Hydrogel for Delivery of Tetracycline and Curcumin As\nPotential Wound Dressing Material

Wound care is a flourishing branch of healthcare wherein\na great\namount of research is devoted to develop competent wound dressings.\nSafe, cost-effective, and biocompatible dressings aid in wound healing\nwithout inflicting external trauma and subsequent scar formation.\nToward this, we have attempted to develop robust wound dressing material\nwith self-healing and antibacterial properties. We have cross-linked\nchitosan with 4-formyl phenylboronic acid (4-FPBA) and in situ generated\ndehydroascorbic acid (DHA) utilizing the dynamic imine and boronate\nester linkages. Displaying a channeled microstructure in the SEM micrographs,\nthe hydrogel exhibits a massive water uptake capacity of ∼900%\nat acidic pH. The hydrogel could completely self-heal within 3 min,\nand the results are further supported by rheological analysis. By\nvirtue of positive surface charge, it shows a promising tissue adhesive\nproperty. Moreover, it affords clean and compliant removal from the\nwound surface via dissolution induced by dopamine to potentially reduce\nsecondary scarring from peeling of wound dressings. The dressing could\nsignificantly act against skin infections caused by <i>S. aureus</i> bacteria with enhanced antimicrobial efficiency via loading of antibiotic\ndrug, tetracycline hydrochloride. A sustained release of tetracycline\nand Curcumin was observed, which demonstrated the release ability\nfor hydrophilic and hydrophobic bioactive agents. In-vitro studies\nrevealed 93% cell viability with a hemolytic ratio as low as 2.5%,\nthereby presenting a good self-healing and biocompatible material\nfor wound healing.