Reactive Oxygen Species Suppressive Kraft Lignin‐Gelatin Antioxidant Hydrogels for Chronic Wound Repair

• Published in: Macromolecular bioscience 2022-11, Vol.22 (11), p.e2200234-n/a
• Main Authors: Kim, Byulhana, Kim, Young, Lee, Yoonho, Oh, Joomin, Jung, Youngmee, Koh, Won‐Gun, Chung, Justin J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: antioxidant hydrogel; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Biocompatibility; chronic wound repair; Epichlorohydrin; Gelatin; Gelatin - pharmacology; Hydrogels; Hydrogels - pharmacology; Inflammation; Inflammatory response; kraft lignin; Lignin; Mechanical properties; Oxidative stress; Oxygen; Reactive oxygen species; reactive oxygen species (ROS); Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Ring opening; Scavenging; Wound Healing
• ISSN: 1616-5187; 1616-5195
• DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202200234

Chronic wound is difficult to repair because the normal wound healing mechanism is inhibited by the continuous inflammatory response. The delayed inflammatory responses generate high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the wound sites, which leads to a longer inflammatory phase and induces a vicious cycle that interferes with the normal wound healing process. Therefore, ROS scavenging is an important factor for chronic wound healing. In this study, antioxidant hydrogel is developed by cross‐linking kraft lignin, an antioxidant agent, and gelatin (Klig‐Gel). Klig‐Gel hydrogel is fabricated via ring opening reaction with epichlorohydrin as a cross‐linker. High ROS scavenging activities are confirmed by various antioxidant evaluations, and in vitro natural antioxidant expression tests show reduction of oxidative stress. Mechanical properties of Klig‐Gel hydrogel are tailorable by introducing different amount of kraft lignin to the hydrogel system. Biocompatibility is confirmed regardless of the kraft lignin content. Klig‐Gel hydrogel is a promising ROS scavenging material that can be applied in various chronic wound healing applications. Kraft lignin based hydrogels are fabricated to suppress overexpressed reactive oxygen species (ROS) for chronic wound repair. Kraft lignin and gelatin are cross‐linked via ring opening reaction to form flexible and antioxidant hydrogels. The hydrogels exhibit high antioxidant ability. Plus, tailorable mechanical properties, pH neutralization ability, and antibacterial activities are confirmed. Kraft lignin‐gelatin hydrogels are promising wound dressing biomaterials.