A single-component photocurable chitosan hydrogel mitigates inflammation and promotes angiogenesis and neurogenesis for diabetic wound healing.

Abstract

Effective tissue regeneration remains challenging due to persistent inflammation, insufficient angiogenesis, and impaired neuroregeneration, particularly in complex wounds such as diabetic ulcers. Although multifunctional biomaterials have shown therapeutic potential, their structural complexity often limits clinical translation, highlighting the need for simpler yet highly effective systems. Herein, we develop a chitosan-based hydrogel derived from selenolipoic acid modified chitosan (SeAMC). In contrast to conventional octenoic acid modified chitosan (OAMC) and lipoic acid modified chitosan (LAMC), the SeAMC hydrogel exhibits markedly faster gelation under UV irradiation (within 3 s) and, notably, enables efficient photocrosslinking under 495 nm blue-green light as well as natural white light, thereby substantially broadening the applicable photochemical window. The SeAMC hydrogel effectively alleviates inflammation while promoting angiogenesis and neuroregeneration, thereby facilitating wound closure and tissue regeneration in diabetic wounds. Owing to its simple composition, good photocuring performance, and integrated biofunctionality, SeAMC represents a clinically translatable strategy for high-performance tissue repair.