Thiol-yne crosslinked alginate click-hydrogel for the electrical stimulation of skin wound healing.
Por:
Ramírez-Alba MD, Resina L, García-Torres JM, Macovez R, Alemán C and Pérez-Madrigal MM
Publicada:
1 sep 2025
Ahead of Print:
14 ago 2025
Resumen:
Thanks to their biocompatibility and ability to support cell growth, alginate hydrogels are promising scaffolds for skin tissue regeneration. If conductive, they can further improve the wound healing process by electrical stimulation (ES). Herein, we explore the preparation and application of robust hydrogels synthesized via the thiol-yne click reaction, a highly efficient and rapid process. Hydrogels were obtained by functionalizing alginate with thiol groups and crosslinking them with a modified 3-arm polyethylene glycol (PEG) precursor (click-Alg). As a final step, the in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of poly(hydroxymethyl-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (semi-interpenetrated PHMeEDOT) rendered them electro-responsive (click-Alg/PHMeEDOT). The gelation of the click-Alg hydrogels proceeded quickly (within 3 min), enabling rapid network formation for injectable application and resulting in high gel fraction, which ensured structural stability. After incorporating PHMeEDOT, a decrease in the pore size happened, while porosity remained predominantly open, with PHMeEDOT completely covering the pores surface. This coating enhanced the electrochemical response of click-Alg/PHMeEDOT hydrogels, whereas their mechanical similarity (with values of Young's modulus = 116 ± 10.7 kPa) to skin tissue is expected to reduce mismatch risks, improve integration, and minimize stress-related healing issues. Optimized in vitro assays with Vero and HFF-1 cells subjected to 0.6 V for 20 min showed significant wound closure after 2 h, implying that increased electrochemical activity played a key role in promoting wound closure under ES. Overall, we highlight the synergy between both matrices and the effectiveness and potential of click-Alg/PHMeEDOT hydrogels as electrode-like wound dressings for electrically-driven skin tissue repair.
Filiaciones:
Ramírez-Alba MD:
IMEM-BRT Group, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), Edifici I. Av. Eduard Maristany, 10-14, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
Grup de Caracterització de Materials, Departament de Física, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Edifici C. Av. Eduard Maristany 10-14, 08019 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Barcelona Research Centre in Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), Av. Eduard Maristany, 16, Barcelona 08019, Spain
Resina L:
IMEM-BRT Group, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), Edifici I. Av. Eduard Maristany, 10-14, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Research Centre in Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), Av. Eduard Maristany, 16, Barcelona 08019, Spain
García-Torres JM:
Barcelona Research Centre in Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), Av. Eduard Maristany, 16, Barcelona 08019, Spain
Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Research Center for Biomedical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), 08019 Barcelona, Spain
CIBER en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, CIBER-BBN, Zaragoza 50018, Spain
Macovez R:
Grup de Caracterització de Materials, Departament de Física, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Edifici C. Av. Eduard Maristany 10-14, 08019 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Barcelona Research Centre in Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), Av. Eduard Maristany, 16, Barcelona 08019, Spain
Alemán C:
IMEM-BRT Group, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), Edifici I. Av. Eduard Maristany, 10-14, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Research Centre in Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), Av. Eduard Maristany, 16, Barcelona 08019, Spain
Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Pérez-Madrigal MM:
IMEM-BRT Group, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), Edifici I. Av. Eduard Maristany, 10-14, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Research Centre in Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), Av. Eduard Maristany, 16, Barcelona 08019, Spain
Open Access
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