Astragalus Polysaccharide Hydrogels with Drug-Carrying Super Self-Assembly from Natural Herbs Promote Wound Healing

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-Mg²⁺, OCS) loaded with curcumin (Cur)-encapsulated <i>Achyranthes bidentata</i> 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.