Natural Protein-Based Multifunctional Hydrogel Dressing Formed by Rapid Photocuring and Zinc Ion Coordination to Accelerate Wound Healing

The study presents a novel hydrogel dressing made from chicken egg white (EW) and GelMA, infused with zinc ions (Zn2+), designed to enhance wound healing. This Zn-EW/Gel hydrogel features an interpenetrating network structure, providing improved mechanical stability and self-adhesive properties. In vitro experiments showed that the hydrogel promotes fibroblast proliferation, type I collagen expression, modulates the immune microenvironment, and enhances angiogenesis. The hydrogel demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and bioactivity in vivo, indicating its potential to restore the physiological properties of damaged wound tissue effectively.