Zinc-chelated cuttlefish ink melanin nanoparticle-complexed sprayable chitosan-based hydrogel for promoting infected wound healing

Infected wounds pose a formidable challenge to global healthcare as their rising prevalence, severe pathological manifestations, and intricate therapeutic demands have become increasingly prominent. In this study, a sprayable hydrogel wound dressing (HGM@Zn²⁺) with synergistic multifunctional properties is constructed by integrating zinc-chelated cuttlefish ink melanin nanoparticles (Me@Zn²⁺ NPs), gelatin (Gel) and hydroxybutyl chitosan (HBC). The thermosensitive HBC confers the hydrogel with sprayability at 4 °C and rapid in situ gelation at the physiological temperature (37 °C), thus enabling conformal adaptation and seamless coverage of irregularly shaped wounds. Notably, the HGM@Zn²⁺ hydrogel markedly accelerates the healing process of infected wounds by synchronizing photothermal antibacterial activity, antioxidative capacity, and proangiogenic properties. Furthermore, it has the merits of abundant raw material availability, cost-effectiveness, and a straightforward preparation process. This work not only presents a novel technical strategy for tackling infected wounds but also furnishes a promising pathway for the green and cost-effective development of wound repair materials.