Catechol-functionalised dialdehyde cellulose-containing hydrogels with tissue adhesion, sensing and haemostatic properties for wound healing

Recently, cellulose-based hydrogels have been widely used in biomedical applications. However, obtaining hydrogels with integrated tissue adhesion, sensing, haemostatic and wound healing capabilities remains challenging. In this study, we created a catechol-functionalised hydrogel based on multiple hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking using dopamine-modified dialdehyde carboxymethyl cellulose (DCMC-DA) and polyacrylic acid (PAA). The DCMC-DA/PAA hydrogel exhibited strong tissue adhesion, excellent biocompatibility, high sensing performance, effective haemostatic and wound-healing-inducive properties. The abundant aldehyde and catechol moieties of the hydrogels enhanced their adhesion to various substrates. The ions formed by catechol and carboxyl groups endowed the hydrogels with the ability to detect physiological activity signals. Furthermore, the hydrogel demonstrated haemostatic capability, reducing blood loss by 61.1% due to its remarkable adhesion and water absorption capacity. Based on this design strategy of excellent tissue adhesion and biocompatibility, the DCMC-DA/PAA hydrogel considerably accelerated wound healing by accelerating epithelial cell regeneration and collagen deposition. Hydrogels with tissue adhesion, sensing and haemostatic properties exhibit promise for wound healing.