Astragalus Polysaccharide Hydrogels with Drug-Carrying Super Self-Assembly from Natural Herbs Promote Wound Healing
Mingyuan Zhao, Jiawei Xiang, Yuan Meng, Huizhen Sun, Wenxiao Yang, Zhongxian Li, Kai Li, Qiang Zhang, Zhuo Ao, Dong Han
Abstract
The regulation of the immune microenvironment is a key component of wound healing, where suitable wound dressings with skin immunoreactivity can favorably affect the immune process and promote the repairing progress. Therefore, we developed an injectable photo-cross-linkable composite hydrogel─oxidized astragalus polysaccharide and carboxymethyl chitosan/sodium methacrylated alginate and magnesium ions hydrogel (OAPS-CMC/SAMA-Mg 2+, OCS) loaded with curcumin (Cur)-encapsulated Achyranthes bidentata supramolecular self-assemblies (NX SSA) (NX@Cur)─termed OCS/NX@Cur to synergistically accelerate skin repair. The astragalus polysaccharide-dominated hydrogel matrix provided a superior anti-inflammatory ability. Meanwhile, NX@Cur provided strong angiogenesis and accelerated collagen deposition. In cellular experiments and a rat model of total skin defects, the OCS/NX@Cur exhibited superior anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and angiogenic capabilities. These properties modulated the inflammatory environment of the wound, thereby promoting the formation of granulation tissue and neovascularization and accelerating collagen deposition and re-epithelialization. In conclusion, OCS/NX@Cur showed excellent wound repair capabilities, providing a potential therapeutic option for the combination of super self-assembly and natural polysaccharide hydrogels for wound repair.