Polylimonene Improves the In Vivo Wound Healing Performance of Sodium Alginate‐Based Hydrogels
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Efficient wound dressing materials must support tissue regeneration while modulating the oxidative environment. In this study, a photo‐crosslinked hydrogel based on methacrylated alginate (AlgMA) containing 3% (w/v) poly(limonene) (PLM) was developed to improve healing outcomes. PLM, a stable and non‐volatile antioxidant additive, was incorporated to overcome the limitations of limonene's volatility and instability. The hydrogel's efficacy was evaluated in vivo using an excisional wound model in rats and compared to unmodified AlgMA and commercial dressings (Sorbalgon and cotton gauze). Wound contraction was assessed through macroscopic imaging and quantitatively described using mathematical models. The AlgMA/PLM3% hydrogel exhibited the fastest healing dynamics, with a logistic rate constant of 0.63 day −1 and a half‐maximal healing time of 6.02 days, outperforming AlgMA (7.64 days), Sorbalgon (8.82 days), and gauze (10.78 days). Histological analysis confirmed superior re‐epithelialization, granulation tissue density, and dermal organization in the AlgMA/PLM3% group by Day 18. These results demonstrate that the incorporation of PLM into alginate hydrogels enhances wound healing by accelerating closure and promoting tissue organization, positioning PLM as a promising bioactive additive for acute wound care.
DOI: 10.1002/app.70293
Language: English
Topic: Wound Healing and Treatments
Subfield: Rehabilitation
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,140
Awards: Magnetic resonance equipment for advanced material research: molecular characterisation of solid, soft, homogeneous and heterogeneous matter for the development of advanced functional materials and chemical catalysis, Development of films and hydrogels containing terpenes or derivative oligomers for active packaging and multifunctional medical devices applications, G523807596, Exploiting polymersomes to create 'smart' wound dressings with diagnostic and antimicrobial capabilities, G6523329436, G7081156356, G7939529489
OpenAlex ID: W7117766086