The quest for scarless wound healing is a significant focus in the field of healthcare, particularly for those seeking to improve the outcomes of traditional wound treatment methods. Recent research has highlighted the potential of hyaluronic acid (HA), a critical component of the skin’s extracellular matrix, in facilitating wound healing and promoting skin rejuvenation.
In an innovative study, researchers have explored the advantages of HA hydrogels, specifically photo-crosslinkable methacrylated HA (MAHA). The team aimed to optimize the physicochemical and mechanical properties of MAHA by varying factors such as the methacrylation degree, polymer concentration, photo-crosslinker concentration, and UV exposure time. The result was a hydrogel with ideal porosity, swelling ratio, degradability, and mechanical properties.
To further enhance skin regeneration, the optimized MAHA hydrogel was combined with tannic acid (TA), a compound known for its hemostatic, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. Additionally, Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) were cultured on the MAHA-TA hydrogel. The composite MAHA-TA-MSC hydrogel demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, as evidenced by high cell viability and promoted cell proliferation.
When tested on dorsal wounds in rats, this composite hydrogel accelerated the wound healing process and significantly reduced scarring. Furthermore, molecular and histopathological analyses revealed increased expression levels of key factors such as IL-10, the TGF-β3/TGF-β1 ratio, and the Collagen III/Collagen I ratio, all of which are associated with improved healing outcomes. These promising findings suggest that the MAHA-TA-MSC hydrogel could be a groundbreaking candidate for achieving scarless acute wound healing.
The research was conducted by a team of experts, including Mozhgan Abedanzadeh, Samira Sadat Abolmaali, Reza Heidari, Ehsan Aalaei, Maryam Kaviani, Mahintaj Dara, Samaneh Mohammadi, Negar Azarpira, and Ali Mohammad Tamaddon, all hailing from various departments at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran and the University of Washington in the USA. Their collaborative efforts have paved the way for new advancements in wound healing technology, potentially transforming the landscape of treatment for patients dealing with wounds and scars.
