The utilization of TGase-crosslinked phycocyanin-collagen hydrogels for the purpose of facilitating skin wound healing

Jinqi Qu; Xinrong Geng; Song Qin; Jie Li; Wenjun Li

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.145932

The utilization of TGase-crosslinked phycocyanin-collagen hydrogels for the purpose of facilitating skin wound healing

Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Jul 11:145932. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.145932. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Jinqi Qu¹, Xinrong Geng², Song Qin¹, Jie Li³, Wenjun Li⁴

Affiliations

¹ Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
² Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China; Qingdao Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qingdao 266112, China.
³ Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China. Electronic address: lijie@sdust.edu.cn.
⁴ Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China; Yantai Marine Economic Research Institute, Yantai 264003, China. Electronic address: wjli@yic.ac.cn.

PMID: 40653225
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.145932

Abstract

Conventional collagen hydrogels face limitations such as residual toxicity from chemical cross-linkers (e.g., glutaraldehyde), inadequate antioxidant capacity, and poor permeability. To address these, we developed a phycocyanin-collagen hydrogel (PC-Col) using non-toxic transglutaminase (TGase) as a cross-linker. Results showed that, compared to collagen-only hydrogels, TGase-crosslinked PC-Col hydrogels exhibited enhanced thermal stability, superior permeability, and pH-responsive swelling (peak swelling rate: 358.54 % at pH 8.2). In vitro assays confirmed biocompatibility and dose-dependent improvement in cell migration. In rat wound models, PC-Col hydrogels increased CD-31 expression by 1.3-fold, reduced IL-6 and TNF-α levels by 28 % and 25 %, respectively, elevated CAT and SOD activities by 69 % and 45 %, and decreased MDA by 20 %. These results demonstrate that TGase-crosslinked PC-Col hydrogels offer enhanced permeability, anti-inflammatory efficacy, and antioxidant activity, validating their potential as advanced wound dressings.

Keywords: Collagen; Hydrogel; Phycocyanin; Wound healing.