Self-Healing Oxidized Dextran/Sodium Alginate Hydrogel Dressing with Hemostatic Activity Speeds Up Wound Healing in Burn Injuries

This study introduced a hydrogel dressing, termed SODex-gel, which was constructed by establishing Schiff base and hydrogen bonds with the precursors of oxidized dextran (ODex) and succinic dihydrazide (SD)-modified sodium alginate (SD-mod-SA). Through comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies, the adhesive properties, self-healing capabilities, hemostatic potential, and wound healing efficacy of the SODex-gel dressing were meticulously evaluated. The ¹H NMR, FTIR, and TGA analyses confirmed the fabrication of the SODex-gel dressing and its constituent elements. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging showcased the uniform pore structures in the SODex-gel dressing. In vitro assessments demonstrated that the SODex-gel dressing was noncytotoxic and exhibits strong adhesion, enabling it to attach to various surfaces. Noteworthy findings from studies of mouse liver incisions and tail amputation models proved the hemostatic ability of the SODex-gel dressing. Moreover, their remarkable wound-healing capabilities were prominently demonstrated through the treatment of a mouse model afflicted with burn skin injuries. Evidence of neovascularization effects was corroborated by the upregulation of CD31 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in the treated skin samples. Collectively, the experimental data unequivocally established that the SODex-gel dressing is a promising therapeutic approach to accelerate wound recovery, thereby exhibiting substantial potential for clinical applications in treating burn injuries.