Ionic liquid functionalized injectable and conductive hyaluronic acid hydrogels for the efficient repair of diabetic wounds under electrical stimulation

Abstract

The treatment and care of diabetic wounds remains a global challenge due to the high rates of amputation, recurrence, and mortality. It has been proven that electrical stimulation has a positive effect on promoting diabetic wound healing. Hyaluronic acid is an acidic mucopolysaccharide that exhibits important physiological functions in the body. However, it is not an ideal electrical substrate because of its poor electrical conductivity. In this work, a series of novel ionic liquid functionalized injectable and conductive hydrogels was prepared based on hyaluronic acid. The obtained hydrogels exhibited excellent electrical conductivity, flexibility and mechanical properties, and conferred significant antibacterial effects without the need for additional antibiotics. These hydrogels coupled with exogenous electrical stimulation can significantly accelerate diabetic wound healing compared with the commercial Tegaderm™ film.