Innovative wound management: creating dynamic Alg-Mg/SF hydrogels for controlled Mg2+ release in wound healing

Abstract

Antibacterial hydrogels have gained considerable attention for soft tissue repair, particularly in preventing infections associated with wound healing. However, developing an antibacterial hydrogel that simultaneously possesses excellent cell affinity and controlled release of metal ions remains challenging. This study introduces an antibacterial hydrogel based on alginate modified with bisphosphonate, forming a coordination complex with magnesium ions. The hydrogel, through an interpenetrating network with silk fibroin, effectively controls the release of magnesium ions and enhances strain resistance. The Alg-Mg/SF hydrogel not only demonstrates outstanding biocompatibility and broad-spectrum antibacterial properties but also stimulates macrophages to secrete anti-inflammatory factors. This advanced Alg-Mg/SF hydrogel provides a convenient therapeutic approach for chronic wound management, showcasing its potential applications in wound healing and other relevant biomedical fields.