Development of the mussel-inspired pH-responsive hydrogel based on Bletilla striata polysaccharide with enhanced adhesiveness and antioxidant properties

Recently, smart hydrogels have attracted much attention for their abilities to respond to subtle changes in external and internal stimuli. Also, natural polysaccharide-based biomaterials are more appealing for their biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, limitations owing to their complex compositions and mechanisms, cumbersome synthetic routes, and single function call for a simple and effective strategy to develop novel multifunctional smart hydrogels. Herein, this developed work was achieved based on Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP), a kind of natural glucomannan with diverse bioactivities and biocompatibility, we fabricated a low-cost multifunctional hydrogel by oxidizing the catechol groups of carboxymethylated BSP(CBSP)-dopamine (DA) conjugate with adhesion, antioxidant, and pH-responsive properties. In this hydrogel system, CBSP as the backbone material, was negatively charged and conferred the hydrogel with pH sensitivity. The presence of catechol groups greatly enhanced the tissue adhesion and antioxidant capacities of the hydrogel. Meanwhile, the highly porous structure of hydrogel allowed berberine to be encapsulated and released to exhibit excellent and long-lasting antibacterial activity. In summary, the adhesion, antioxidant, pH-sensitive, and antibacterial multifunctional hydrogel showed massive potential in the biomedical field.

Automated summary

A multifunctional hydrogel based on natural polysaccharides was developed with adhesion, antioxidant, pH-responsive, and antibacterial properties, showing great potential in the field of biomedicine.