Oxygen-generating alginate hydrogels as a bioactive acellular matrix for facilitating wound healing

Although alginate-based hydrogels have been widely used as injectable matrices in a wide range of biomedical applications because of their biocompatibility and easy fabrication process, it is still challenging to improve their bioactivity. Growing evidence has demonstrated that hyperoxic oxygen facilitates wound healing processes via transient oxidative stress. Herein, we report an oxygen generating alginate (OGA) hydrogel as a bioactive acellular matrix for enhanced wound healing. We fabricate OGA hydrogels through calcium peroxide (CaO2)-mediated ionotropic interactions. The oxygen releasing behavior of the hydrogels can be accurately controlled. Moreover, we demonstrate that the OGA hydrogels accelerated wound healing in full-thickness wounds in mice. (C) 2018 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.