Double cross-linked cellulose hydrogel-supported Fe species for efficient wound healing

Abstract

Traditional dressings often lack adequate skin structure support, which can lead to secondary damage, poor hemostasis, and an increased risk of inflammation due to wound adhesion. In this work, cellulose hydrogels were prepared by physical/chemical double cross-linking via a ‘sol–gel’ strategy and further loaded with Fe to obtain a three-dimensional (3D) porous cellulose/Fe composite hydrogel (cellulose/Fe gel). The obtained cellulose/Fe gel featured a 3D porous nanofiber structure, excellent water absorption/moisture retention performance, and good mechanical stability. Moreover, it could effectively remove reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibit cellular oxidative stress, demonstrating potential anti-inflammatory effects. When applied to wound repair in rats, cellulose/Fe gel, with excellent cell compatibility, effectively stimulated the formation of new blood vessels and significantly reduced the level of inflammatory factors, promoting wound healing. This work provides a new approach for cellulose-based hydrogel wound dressings.