Self-assembled magnesium peroxide supramolecular hydrogel for oxidants neutralization and chemical burn management.

Abstract

Supramolecular hydrogels have emerged as a transformative strategy for burn wound management due to their dynamic adaptability and bio-interfacial responses. Herein, a self-assembled magnesium peroxide (MPO) supramolecular hydrogel was engineered as a first-aid intervention for oxidant-induced chemical burns. Unlike conventional approaches that mechanically entrap pre-synthesized MPO nanoparticles within hydrogel matrices, the designed hydrogel system utilized metastable MPO species generated <i>in situ</i> during the one-pot synthesis to form a crosslinker-free network through hydrogen bonding and Mg²⁺ coordination. The MPO species dynamically assembled into the hydrogel matrix by serving as structural nodes, while the tailored linkers dictated mechanical robustness. The hydrogel exhibited superior efficacy to effectively neutralize residual oxidants by chemical burn (e.g., NaClO), while sustained oxygen release and Mg²⁺ supply from MPO synergistically established a regenerative microenvironment to accelerate angiogenesis and epithelialization. As validated on a murine NaClO-induced chemical burn model, the developed hydrogel achieved excellent oxidant clearance and reduced wound area compared to controls, demonstrating its efficacy as an emergency treatment. This work pioneers a novel hydrogel architecture integrating active MPO species, offering a blueprint for designing oxygen-supplying biomaterials as next-generation therapeutic hydrogels in emergency trauma care.