Dual-Crosslinked Thermosensitive Hydrogel for Spatiotemporally Sequential Drug Delivery in 3D-Bioprinted Diabetic Wound Dressings

Customizable 3D-printed biopolymer hydrogels hold great promise for diabetic wound therapy. This work presents a dual‑crosslinked thermoresponsive hydrogel ink of hydroxybutyl chitosan (HBC) and quaternized-aldehyde-modified chitin (OQCH). Pre-crosslinked via Schiff-base reaction and reinforced by thermosensitive moieties, the ink enables high-fidelity post-processing-free 3D printing and offers long-lasting antibacterial activity from quaternary ammonium groups. A bilayer dressing with graded crosslinking realizes healing-stage-matched sequential drug release to tackle inflammation and vascular impairment. The hydrogel shows good mechanics, adhesion, biocompatibility, anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic effects. In vivo results verify that it modulates macrophages, mitigates oxidative stress and speeds diabetic wound closure, demonstrating potential for spatiotemporally regulated personalized wound management.

Professor Chunya Wu is the Head of the Department of Mechanical Manufacturing and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, where she is a Tenured Professor and a recipient of a national-level young talent program. Her research focuses on ultra-precision machining and micro/nano manufacturing, bio-fabrication and bio-inspired applications, and the regulation of material–interface properties. Professor Wu has led nearly 20 research projects and received the Second Prize of the Heilongjiang Provincial Natural Science Award, the Second Prize of the University Science and Technology Award, and the Second Prize of the Higher Education Teaching Achievement Award. She has published more than 80 academic papers and holds nearly 50 invention patents. She currently serves as the Director of a Provincial Demonstration Course for Curriculum-Based Ideological and Political Education, a Council Member of the National Society for Research on Mechanical Manufacturing Education, Associate Editor of the Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Science and Technology.