Carboxymethyl chitosan-based multifunctional hydrogel loaded with ginseng stem cell exosomes promotes severe burn wound healing through anti-inflammatory activity.

Ding, Ran; Wang, Yongming; Long, Zhiqing; Wan, Binlong; Dai, Qianqian; Yang, Shuang; Guan, Shichao; Yu, Hanying et al. · Burns · 2026

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

Severe burns cause excessive inflammation and immune dysregulation that delay healing and increase infection risk. Here, we developed an injectable self-healing hydrogel (CMCS/OHA/Exo, "Exo-gel") incorporating ginseng callus stem-cell-derived exosomes to promote burn repair. The hydrogel rapidly formed via Schiff-base crosslinking, exhibited excellent injectability, mechanical resilience, and sustained exosome release. Exosomes (∼140 nm) were rich in bioactive lipids and miRNAs related to angiogenesis and immune regulation. In vitro, Exo-gel enhanced cell viability, reduced LPS-induced reactive-oxygen species (ROS), and significantly downregulated IL-1β, iNOS, IL-6, and TNF-α expression. In vivo, Exo-gel accelerated wound closure, promoted re-epithelialization, angiogenesis, and collagen remodeling, yielding superior tissue repair. This renewable, antibiotic-sparing biomaterial offers a promising therapeutic platform for severe burn treatment.