The effect of antimicrobial peptide HX‐12C on the properties of chitosan/polyacrylic acid hydrogel

Abstract Antimicrobial peptide (AMP) hydrogel is a novel biomaterial widely used in wound healing. However, there have been limited studies investigating the effect of AMP on hydrogel properties so far. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the influence of the AMP HX‐12C on the chitosan/polyacrylic acid (CS/PAA) double‐network (DN) hydrogel. The results showed that the mechanical properties of CS/PAA/HX‐12C hydrogel are significantly improved compared with those of CS/PAA hydrogel. The maximum tensile stress increased from 41.0 to 258.5 KPa, and the compression stress required for 80% hydrogel deformation increased from 3.7 to 6.7 MPa. Furthermore, the thermal stability of CS/PAA/HX‐12C showed a noticeable enhancement when compared with CS/PAA hydrogel. In addition, the CS/PAA/HX‐12C hydrogel exhibited improved porosity and swelling performance. The addition of HX‐12C significantly enhanced the antibacterial activity of the hydrogel against Escherichia coli and methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus . Cytotoxicity test showed that the viability of L929 cell remained above 90% after treatment with CS/PAA/HX‐12C hydrogel extract, indicating the good biocompatibility. In conclusion, AMP assuredly enhances the mechanical property, swelling performance and antimicrobial activity of hydrogel. The CS/PAA/HX‐12C hydrogel shows potential for use as anti‐infective medical material.