The quest for scarless wound healing has emerged as a critical challenge in healthcare, as traditional wound treatments often leave visible scars that can impact a patient’s quality of life. Recent research highlights the potential of hyaluronic acid (HA), a vital component of the skin’s extracellular matrix, in promoting effective wound healing and skin rejuvenation. This article discusses a study focused on optimizing HA hydrogels for enhanced wound healing outcomes.
The study, conducted by Mozhgan Abedanzadeh and colleagues at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, set out to refine the physicochemical and mechanical properties of photo-crosslinkable methacrylated hyaluronic acid (MAHA). By varying factors such as the degree of methacrylation, polymer concentration, photo-crosslinker concentration, and UV exposure time, the researchers developed an optimized hydrogel. This hydrogel exhibited suitable porosity, swelling ratio, degradability, and mechanical properties—characteristics essential for effective wound healing applications.
To further enhance the regenerative potential of the hydrogel, the researchers incorporated tannic acid (TA), 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 resulting composite MAHA-TA-MSC hydrogel demonstrated favorable pore structure and biocompatibility, as evidenced by significant cell viability and proliferation.
In vivo experiments were conducted on dorsal wounds in rats to assess the hydrogel’s effectiveness in promoting wound healing. The results were promising, showing that the composite hydrogel not only accelerated the healing process but also significantly reduced scarring. Molecular and histopathological analyses further supported these findings, revealing increased expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10), a favorable TGF-β3/TGF-β1 ratio, and an enhanced Collagen III/Collagen I ratio. These molecular markers indicate improved healing and reduced scarring, suggesting that the MAHA-TA-MSC hydrogel is a promising candidate for scarless acute wound healing.
This research emphasizes the importance of innovative approaches to wound care, particularly in utilizing biomaterials like HA to enhance healing processes. The work of Mozhgan Abedanzadeh, Samira Sadat Abolmaali, Reza Heidari, Ehsan Aalaei, Maryam Kaviani, Mahintaj Dara, Samaneh Mohammadi, Negar Azarpira, and Ali Mohammad Tamaddon paves the way for future advancements in regenerative medicine, potentially transforming the landscape of wound treatment and patient care.
