Alginate-Catechol Hydrogel

Drug-free oral ulcer healing

Balanced adhesion, mechanics, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties achieved via substitution degree control, accelerating oral ulcer healing.

Te, Pan · Peiying, Zheng · Ruixu, Cai · Wang, Tianmina Min · Zhong, Saiyi · Ji, Xiaolong · Kulp, Maria · Kudrjashova, Marina · Veerabagu, Udayakumar · Kikas, Timo · Cheong, Kit Leong

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 2026

Specifications

Adhesion strength

{'zh': '17.5', 'en': '17.5'} %

Healing time

{'zh': '5', 'en': '5'} days

Degree of substitution

{'zh': '17.5', 'en': '17.5'} %

Advantages

Highest adhesion strength

At a substitution degree of 17.5%, adhesion strength peaks while maintaining favorable deformability for the dynamic oral environment.

Comparable to dexamethasone patch

In a rat oral ulcer model, the optimized hydrogel accelerated healing with efficacy comparable to a dexamethasone patch after 5 days, without drug loading.

Antioxidant and antibacterial

Catechol groups provide ROS scavenging and antibacterial activities, reducing inflammation and preventing infection.

Applications

• Oral ulcer treatment：Applied directly to ulcers, strong adhesion prolongs retention and promotes healing without drug loading.
• Mucosal repair：Modulates macrophage polarization, promotes collagen deposition and epithelial regeneration for mucosal repair.
• Bioadhesive dressings：Catechol groups provide wet adhesion, firmly attaching to oral mucosa and resisting saliva washout.
• Wound healing materials：Combines antioxidant and antibacterial functions to reduce inflammation and create a favorable environment for wound healing.