Zn2+-triggered mineralized hydrogel for enhanced deep burn wound healing
image: (a) The HRZn hydrogel was constructed by mixing HA, Rhein, and Zn2+. (b) The use of HRZn hydrogel for treating S. aureus-infected burn wound.
Credit: Nano Research, Tsinghua University Press
Burns affect over 100 million people worldwide each year, and deep burns remain a major clinical challenge due to severe tissue damage and impaired regeneration. These wounds are highly susceptible to infection, inflammation, and necrosis, often leading to delayed healing and severe complications. Moreover, prolonged antibiotic use can cause drug resistance and metabolic stress. To address these issues, the study reports the development of a multifunctional material with antibacterial, pro-angiogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties to promote effective deep burn wound healing.
A team of material scientists led by Chunsheng Xiao from Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China recently reported a Zn2+-triggered mineralized hydrogel used for enhanced deep burn wound healing. The multifunctional hydrogel (HRZn) was fabricated through in situ mineralization and dynamic crosslinking of HA, Rhein, and Zn²⁺, resulting in enhanced mechanical properties and sustained release of bioactive components. In vivo evaluations demonstrated its potent efficacy in accelerating the healing of S. aureus-infected deep burn wounds.
The team published their research article in Nano Research on January 22, 2026.
In this work, Xiao’s group have developed a multifunctional HRZn hydrogel via a one-step in situ mineralization and dynamic crosslinking strategy using hyaluronic acid, Rhein, and Zn²⁺. The resulting hybrid nanofiber network endowed the hydrogel with excellent mechanical strength, injectability, and self-healing ability, along with sustained release of Rhein and Zn²⁺. In vitro experiments demonstrated over 90% cell viability and minimal hemolysis, confirming its good biocompatibility. The HRZn hydrogel showed superior antibacterial performance, maintaining over 99% inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli even after two release cycles. It also promoted fibroblast migration and endothelial tube formation, indicating enhanced angiogenic potential, while effectively suppressing inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6. In an infected deep burn mouse model, HRZn accelerated wound closure and achieved nearly complete healing by day 15, with organized epidermal regeneration, abundant collagen deposition, and negligible scarring. These findings highlight HRZn as a promising next-generation hydrogel dressing for effective treatment of deep burn wounds.
Other contributors include Yuqian Ji, Yu Yan, Xiaonong Zhang and Gao Li from Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China; Yongchang Tian from Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China and Yunfeng Li from Jilin University, Changchun China.
This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52222307 and 52303214) and the Department of Science and Technology of Jilin Province (grant number: 20230204086YY).
About Nano Research
Nano Research is a peer-reviewed, open access, international and interdisciplinary research journal, sponsored by Tsinghua University and the Chinese Chemical Society, published by Tsinghua University Press on the platform SciOpen. It publishes original high-quality research and significant review articles on all aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology, ranging from basic aspects of the science of nanoscale materials to practical applications of such materials. After 18 years of development, it has become one of the most influential academic journals in the nano field. Nano Research has published more than 1,000 papers every year from 2022, with its cumulative count surpassing 7,000 articles. In 2024 InCites Journal Citation Reports, its 2024 IF is 9.0 (8.7, 5 years), and it continues to be the Q1 area among the four subject classifications. Nano Research Award, established by Nano Research together with TUP and Springer Nature in 2013, and Nano Research Young Innovators (NR45) Awards, established by Nano Research in 2018, have become international academic awards with global influence.