Injectable alginate fibrous hydrogel with a three-dimensional network structure fabricated by microfluidic spinning

Several new types of medical dressings have been developed thus far. However, most are two-dimensional membrane dressings which cannot be used to dress wounds of certain depths such as chronic ulcers and bedsores, and hence, cannot provide wound care. In this work, calcium alginate (Ca-Alg)-polyethylene glycol dipropylene ester (PEGDA) fibers and an injectable fibrous hydrogel were fabricated by microfluidic spinning. The morphology and diameter of the fibers were observed using a fluorescence inverted microscope and scanning electron microscope. The swelling properties under different conditions of the Ca-Alg-PEGDA fibrous hydrogels were tested at room temperature. The results showed that the fibers were arranged in orientation after injection. The diameters of the Ca-Alg-PEGDA fibers decreased with decreasing sodium alginate content. The swelling rate of the Ca-Alg-PEGDA fibrous hydrogels first increased and then decreased with increasing PEGDA content. The injectable Ca-Alg-PEGDA fibrous hydrogel has a three-dimensional network microstructure, which will be useful for filling and treating wounds of a certain depth, and potentially even for shortening the wound healing cycle.