Citation: Zhi-Guo Wang, Wen-Ling Du, Jing Sun, Jun-Jie Xiao, Yuan-Yuan Mou, Xue Xiao, Lingli Li, Lin Zeng, Bai-Song Zhao, Jia-Zhuang Xu, Min Yang, Zhong-Ming Li. Stratum corneum-inspired all-natural-based biogel dressing for promoting infected wound healing[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(9): 112072. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.112072 shu

Stratum corneum-inspired all-natural-based biogel dressing for promoting infected wound healing

Zhi-Guo Wang ^{a, 1} ,
Wen-Ling Du ^{b, 1} ,
Jing Sun ^c ,
Jun-Jie Xiao ^b ,
Yuan-Yuan Mou ^d ,
Xue Xiao ^e ,
Lingli Li ^d ,
Lin Zeng ^f ,
Bai-Song Zhao ^{g, *,} ,
Jia-Zhuang Xu ^b ,
Min Yang ^{h, *,} ,
Zhong-Ming Li ^{b, i}

a.
Medicine and Engineering Interdisciplinary Research Laboratory of Nursing & Materials, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
b.
College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymer Materials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
c.
Department of Anesthesiology, Shenzhen Futian District Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China
d.
West China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
e.
Laboratory of Gastric Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
f.
President & Dean’s Office, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
g.
Department of Anesthesiology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510000, China
h.
Division of Oncology, Department of Paediatric Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
i.
Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China

zhaobaisong819@163.com

hx2014bsym@163.com

Received Date: 11 August 2025
Revised Date: 5 November 2025
Accepted Date: 6 November 2025
Available Online: 7 November 2025

Figures(7)

Natural material-based hydrogels have emerged as ideal candidates for serving as infected wound dressings relying on the extracellular matrix-like microstructure, biocompatibility and the supplying of the wet healing microenvironment. Nevertheless, these hydrogels suffer from limitations including the weak mechanical property, poor water retention ability and inadequate antibacterial property. Herein, we develop a stratum corneum-inspired all-natural-based biogel dressing by directly incorporating natural moisturizing factor (NMF) into gelatin/chitosan quaternary ammonium salt (QCS) hydrogels without necessitating any chemical modification. The sodium pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA-Na, an NMF compound) equipping carboxyl groups forms the ionic crosslink with gelatin containing protonated amino groups and QCS involving quaternary ammonium groups by electrostatic interaction, leading to a significant melioration in the mechanical strength of the biogel. The highly hydrophilic PCA-Na contributes to form additional hydrogen bonds and heighten resistance to dehydration of the biogel, mimicking the role of NMF in the stratum corneum. The excellent broad-spectrum antibacterial property, temperature-controlled reversible fluid-gel transition property and complete degradability are also gathered. A Staphylococcus aureus-infected full-thickness wound repair experiment manifests that our biogel effectively promotes infected wound healing by inhibiting inflammatory factors, facilitating formation of the granulation tissue and angiogenesis. This work paves a valuable way for designing multifunctional natural material-based hydrogel dressings.
- Infected wound,
- Hydrogel dressing,
- Natural moisturizing factor,
- Mechanical strength,
- Antibacterial property
1. [1]
  P. Wang, H. Li, X. Zhang, et al., Nat. Commun. 16 (2025) 3085. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-58377-2
2. [2]
  H. Chen, R. Zhang, G. Zhang, et al., Adv. Mater. 37 (2025) e2410845. doi: 10.1002/adma.202410845
3. [3]
  E. Footner, K. Firipis, E. Liu, et al., ACS Biomater. Sci. Eng. 9 (2023) 5933–5952. doi: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c00283
4. [4]
  W. Liu, C. Yang, R. Gao, et al., Adv. Healthc. Mater. 10 (2021) e2101247. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202101247
5. [5]
  Y. Gao, L. Wang, C. Zhou, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 36 (2025) 110028. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110028
6. [6]
  J. Du, C. Xian, X. Liang, et al., Med. Comm. Biomater. Appl. 4 (2025) e70019.
7. [7]
  Z. Tu, Y. Zhong, H. Hu, et al., Nat. Rev. Mater. 7 (2022) 557–574. doi: 10.1038/s41578-022-00426-z
8. [8]
  X. Zhang, R. Li, S. Li, et al., Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 308 (2025) 142280. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.142280
9. [9]
  C. Yang, G. Liu, J. Chen, et al., Carbohydr. Polym. 282 (2022) 119130. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119130
10. [10]
  Z. Li, J. Chen, W. Cao, et al., Carbohydr. Polym. 180 (2018) 192–199. doi: 10.3747/pdi.2017.00222
11. [11]
  P.P. Kalelkar, M. Riddick, A.J. Garcia, Nat. Rev. Mater. 7 (2022) 39–54.
12. [12]
  M. Wang, T. Li, J. Tian, et al., ACS Nano 18 (2024) 395–409. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.3c07638
13. [13]
  X. Zhang, M. Qin, J. Jia, et al., Int J Biol. Macromol. 290 (2025) 139112. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.139112
14. [14]
  S. Lu, H. Wu, S. Ge, et al., Adv. Healthc. Mater. 13 (2024) 2304676. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202304676
15. [15]
  L. Wang, L. Sun, Z. Gu, et al., Bioact. Mater. 15 (2022) 330–342. doi: 10.3390/agriculture12030330
16. [16]
  Y. Ma, X. Zhou, Z. Mo, et al., Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 268 (2024) 131871. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131871
17. [17]
  Y. Zhang, Z. Tang, L. Chen, et al., J. Control. Release 378 (2025) 961–981. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.12.055
18. [18]
  C. Hong, H. Chung, G. Lee, et al., Biomacromolecules 25 (2024) 4344–4357. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00406
19. [19]
  H. Baniasadi, Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. 342 (2025) 103527. doi: 10.1016/j.cis.2025.103527
20. [20]
  K. Xu, X. Sun, C. Chong, et al., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 16 (2024) 2027–2040. doi: 10.1021/acsami.3c13551
21. [21]
  X.Q. Wang, A.Q. Xie, P. Cao, et al., Adv. Mater. 36 (2024) e2309952. doi: 10.1002/adma.202309952
22. [22]
  L. Dong, Z. Han, H. Zhang, et al., Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 208 (2022) 530–543. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.03.128
23. [23]
  Y. Li, W. Song, L. Kong, et al., Small 20 (2024) e2309599. doi: 10.1002/smll.202309599
24. [24]
  M. Gunnarsson, E.H. Mojumdar, D. Topgaard, et al., J. Colloid Interface Sci. 604 (2021) 480–491. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.07.012
25. [25]
  E. Sparr, S. Björklund, Q.D. Pham, et al., Curr. Opin. Colloid Interface Sci. 67 (2023) 101725. doi: 10.1016/j.cocis.2023.101725
26. [26]
  Y.C. Huang, Q.P. Cheng, U.S. Jeng, et al., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 15 (2023) 5798–5810. doi: 10.1021/acsami.2c18961
27. [27]
  W. Choi, J. Hong, Acta Biomater. 195 (2025) 216–224. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2025.02.003
28. [28]
  H. Dai, X. Li, J. Du, et al., Food Hydrocoll. 101 (2020) 105557. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2019.105557
29. [29]
  H. Cui, J. Cai, H. He, et al., Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 255 (2024) 127952. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127952
30. [30]
  S.C. Millik, N. Sadaba, S.L. Hilburg, et al., Biomacromolecules 26 (2025) 1725–1736. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01497
31. [31]
  M. Luo, Y. Wang, C. Xie, et al., Adv. Healthc. Mater. 11 (2022) e2200722. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202200722
32. [32]
  X. Zhao, J. Luo, Y. Huang, et al., ACS Nano 17 (2023) 22015–22034. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.3c08625
33. [33]
  S. Shang, K. Zhuang, J. Chen, et al., Bioact. Mater. 34 (2024) 298–310.
34. [34]
  H. Xie, Z. Wang, R. Wang, et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 34 (2024) 2401209. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202401209
35. [35]
  R. Shaw, K. Patel, N.M.A. Chimthanawala, et al., Adv. Healthc. Mater. 14 (2025) e2403560. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202403560
36. [36]
  Y. Cao, N. Li, M. Chen, et al., Chem. Eng. J. 508 (2025) 160984. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2025.160984
37. [37]
  P. Li, Y.F. Poon, W. Li, et al., Nat. Mater. 10 (2011) 149–156. doi: 10.1038/nmat2915
38. [38]
  Y. Liu, H. Zhang, M. He, et al., Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 298 (2025) 139525. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.139525
39. [39]
  J. Liang, J. Ling, D. Sun, et al., Adv. Healthc. Mater. 13 (2024) 2400494. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202400494
40. [40]
  L. Ren, Z. Zhang, S. Yang, et al., Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 320 (2025) 145697. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.145697
41. [41]
  X. Xie, H. Lei, D. Fan, J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 144 (2023) 198–212. doi: 10.1016/j.jmst.2022.09.062
1. [1]
  Xiaomin Meng , Chengxin Li , Runlin Fan , Junsheng Zheng , Pingwen Ming . Catalytic curing-driven ultrafast fabrication of high-density composite bipolar plates for PEMFCs. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(9): 111480-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111480
2. [2]
  Yaxian Liang , Qingyi Li , Liwei Hu , Ruohan Zhai , Fan Liu , Lin Tan , Xiaofei Wang , Huixu Xie . Environmentally friendly polylysine gauze dressing for an innovative antimicrobial approach to infected wound management. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(10): 109459-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109459
3. [3]
  Jiajia Wang , XinXin Ge , Yajing Xiang , Xiaoliang Qi , Ying Li , Hangbin Xu , Erya Cai , Chaofan Zhang , Yulong Lan , Xiaojing Chen , Yizuo Shi , Zhangping Li , Jianliang Shen . An ionic liquid functionalized sericin hydrogel for drug-resistant bacteria-infected diabetic wound healing. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(2): 109819-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109819
4. [4]
  Xiaoliu Liang , Chunliu Huang , Hui Liu , Hu Chen , Jiabao Shou , Hongwei Cheng , Gang Liu . Natural hydrogel dressings in wound care: Design, advances, and perspectives. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(10): 109442-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109442
5. [5]
  Xingchen Li , Lin Guan , Xiaoli Li , Xiaolan Ou , Wenlai Guo , Andrei V. Zvyagin , Wenrui Qu , Bai Yang , Quan Lin . A hierarchical hydrogel dressing with continuous biochemical gradient for immunoregulation, nerve repair and angiogenesis of refractory diabetes wounds. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(9): 110661-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110661
6. [6]
  Wenjing Zhang , Yu Chen , Kun Xie , Rachel A. Jun , Run Wang , Ning Wang , Yingwei Li , Yongbo Song . Multifunctional hydrogel embedded with Au−Cu nanoclusters for catalytic cascade therapy of infected diabetic wounds. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(9): 111481-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111481
7. [7]
  Jiaxi Wang , Zhiwei Gao , Hao Liang , Qianyue Liu , Weiqian Jin , Huyang Gao , Bailei Wang , Ruikai Zhu , Jiahao Huang , Xiaowen Li , Xingmou Wu , Weijiu Mo , Yinhan Liao , Ming Gao , Xiaojie Li , Cuiping Li . NIR stimulated epigallocatechin gallate loaded polydopamine with enhanced antibacterial and ROS scavenging abilities for improved infectious wound healing. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(7): 110569-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110569
8. [8]
  Zhiqi Hu , Lingling Wu , Duo Zhang , Yixue An , Jiao Wang , Binbin Zhao , Robert Chunhua Zhao , Rong Cao , Xue Yang . Ultrathin transparent metal-organic framework-based nanocomposite membranes for antibacterial wound healing. Chinese Journal of Structural Chemistry, 2025, 44(12): 100749-100749. doi: 10.1016/j.cjsc.2025.100749
9. [9]
  Kaihang Sheng , Yanshuai Wang , Siyuan Yin , Xiuling Li , Xinya Zhang , Xiaowei Li , Dechao Niu . Gold nanorods-loaded quaternized mesoporous silica nanospheres with synergistic adhesion and photothermal antibacterial mechanism for diabetic wound healing. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(8): 111852-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111852
10. [10]
  Xing Cao , Xinyu Tian , Yuanyuan Huang , Liping Zhang , Yanpeng Ni , Yu-Zhong Wang . H₃PO₃-protonated chitosan enabling flame-retardant and antibacterial PVA composite films with high strength and toughness through multiple H-bonds and interlocking interfaces. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(11): 111382-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111382
11. [11]
  Zhi-Peng Zhou , Xin Wei , Ming Yan , Zhi-Guo Wang , Rui Hong , Jia-Zhuang Xu . Multifunctional selenium nanoparticles/gelatin-based nanocomposite hydrogel adhesive for accelerated full-thickness wound healing. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(9): 111400-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111400
12. [12]
  Lina Xie , Xiaohe Zhang , Xiaobo Wang , Zhen Zhang , Tianqi Nie , Jun Wu , Xiaojun Xu . Multifunctional GelMA hydrogel doped with spermidine-ferrocene polymeric nanoparticles for accelerative diabetic wound healing. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(11): 110848-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.110848
13. [13]
  Lele Meng , Ruhe Zhang , Liying Wang , Yuanzheng Wang , Bo Li , Long Chen . Glucose/ROS dual-responsive hydrogel loaded with mangiferin accelerates diabetic wound healing. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(9): 111981-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111981
14. [14]
  Mengyu Chen , Qinglin Zhou , Tianyun Qin , Ningyao Sun , Yuxi Chen , Yuwei Gong , Xingyi Li , Jinsong Liu . An ionic liquid-reinforced gelatin hydrogel with strong adhesion, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties for treating oral ulcers. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(7): 110441-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110441
15. [15]
  Xicheng Li , Dong Mo , Shoushan Hu , Meng Pan , Meng Wang , Tingyu Yang , Changxing Qu , Yujia Wei , Jianan Li , Hanzhi Deng , Zhongwu Bei , Tianying Luo , Qingya Liu , Yun Yang , Jun Liu , Jun Wang , Zhiyong Qian . A Pt@ZIF-8/ALN-ac/GelMA composite hydrogel with antibacterial, antioxidant, and osteogenesis for periodontitis. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(9): 110674-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110674
16. [16]
  Ningning Gao , Yue Zhang , Zhenhao Yang , Lijing Xu , Kongyin Zhao , Qingping Xin , Junkui Gao , Junjun Shi , Jin Zhong , Huiguo Wang . Ba²⁺/Ca²⁺ co-crosslinked alginate hydrogel filtration membrane with high strength, high flux and stability for dye/salt separation. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(5): 108820-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.108820
17. [17]
  Zhenyu Liu , Hizbullah Malik , Muhammad Bilal Khan Niazi , Umer Shahzad Malik , Zaib Jahan , Muhammad Salman Haider , Suhaib Umer Ilyas , Rayed S. Alshareef , Honghao Hou , Dong Yang . g-C₃N₄/ZnO nano-reinforced polysulfonate-PVA dual-network hydrogels for enhanced antibacterial ability and breathable wound healing. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(6): 111494-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111494
18. [18]
  Peizhang Zhao , Mengmeng Li , Jingwen Wang , Jun Li , Yunfeng Lin . Targeting the immune microenvironment: A novel strategy for treating infected bone defects with hydrogels. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(5): 111319-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111319
19. [19]
  Xin Li , Zhen Xu , Donglei Bu , Jinming Cai , Huamei Chen , Qi Chen , Ting Chen , Fang Cheng , Lifeng Chi , Wenjie Dong , Zhenchao Dong , Shixuan Du , Qitang Fan , Xing Fan , Qiang Fu , Song Gao , Jing Guo , Weijun Guo , Yang He , Shimin Hou , Ying Jiang , Huihui Kong , Baojun Li , Dengyuan Li , Jie Li , Qing Li , Ruoning Li , Shuying Li , Yuxuan Lin , Mengxi Liu , Peinian Liu , Yanyan Liu , Jingtao Lü , Chuanxu Ma , Haoyang Pan , JinLiang Pan , Minghu Pan , Xiaohui Qiu , Ziyong Shen , Qiang Sun , Shijing Tan , Bing Wang , Dong Wang , Li Wang , Lili Wang , Tao Wang , Xiang Wang , Xingyue Wang , Xueyan Wang , Yansong Wang , Yu Wang , Kai Wu , Wei Xu , Na Xue , Linghao Yan , Fan Yang , Zhiyong Yang , Chi Zhang , Xue Zhang , Yang Zhang , Yao Zhang , Xiong Zhou , Junfa Zhu , Yajie Zhang , Feixue Gao , Li Wang . Recent progress on surface chemistry Ⅱ: Property and characterization. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(1): 110100-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110100
20. [20]
  Pei Cao , Yilan Wang , Lejian Yu , Miao Wang , Liming Zhao , Xu Hou . Dynamic asymmetric mechanical responsive carbon nanotube fiber for ionic logic gate. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(6): 109421-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109421

Get Citation

PDF

XML

Metrics

PDF Downloads(0)
Abstract views(8)
HTML views(0)

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

1.
沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142