Preparation and Characterization of Double-Network Composite Hydrogels with Carboxymethyl Pachymaran in Promoting Wound Healing

Utilizing food-derived bioactive polysaccharides in advanced biomedical applications offers significant potential. To effectively harness the inherent bioactivity of Poria cocos, a renowned edible and medicinal fungus, we developed a multifunctional double-network composite hydrogel (CPS) via a feasible one-pot strategy. This was achieved by incorporating functional carboxymethyl pachymaran (CMP) into a matrix of food-grade sodium alginate (SA) and polyacrylamide (PAM). This formulation endows the hydrogel with excellent extensibility, rapid self-healing capabilities, and strong tissue adhesion, all while preserving the biological activity of the natural macromolecules. In a mouse full-thickness skin defect model, the CPS significantly accelerated wound recovery, achieving a healing rate of 51.17 ± 4.87% by day 7. Mechanistically, the food-derived CMP synergistically promoted skin tissue regeneration by downregulating the expression of the early pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and upregulating the angiogenic marker CD31, thereby actively modulating the local microenvironment. Ultimately, these findings demonstrate the viability of using edible fungal polysaccharides as primary bioactive components in advanced wound dressings, providing a novel approach for utilizing food macromolecules in biomedicine.