Polyglutamic acid grafted dopamine modified collagen-polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel for a potential wound dressing

Abstract

Natural collagen has good biocompatibility and ability to promote tissue regeneration and repair, but the poor mechanical properties and intolerance of degradation of natural collagen limit its applications in the biomedical field. In this research, we synthesized a skin wound repair hydrogel with good biological activity, high strength and excellent water absorption properties. Inspired by the theory of wet healing, dopamine was introduced into the side chain of the water-absorbing polymer polyglutamic acid to synthesize a cross-linking agent (PGAD) with both water absorption and cell adhesion ablities, and then it was introduced into collagen/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-COL) system to form a double network hydrogel. Scanning electron microscope observation of the morphological characteristics of the hydrogel showed that after the introduction of PGAD, the hydrogel formed an obvious pore structure, and the swelling rate showed that the introduction of PGAD significantly improved the water absorption rate of the hydrogel.In addition, PVA-COL-PGAD hydrogel has good mechanical properties and water absorption behavior.In vitro experimental results revealed that the hydrogel has good biocompatibility. In vivo wound healing experiments showed that hydrogel can promote wound healing process.These results indicated that our hydrogel has great potential as a medical wound dressing.