The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Polyelectrolyte complex (PEC)–based hydrogels provide a platform for constructing polymer networks governed by ionic interactions. Here, we present a sprayable powder hydrogel based on a charge-balanced PEC of chitosan (CS) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), which reconstructs an ionic network upon hydration. By tuning the CS:PAA composition near the isoelectric point, the powder hydrogel exhibits robust adhesion, conformal coverage on irregular substrates, and facile removal after rehydration. Human placental decellularized extracellular matrix (pECM) powder was incorporated without disrupting the PEC network. The optimized formulation exhibited rapid hemostatic activity and antibacterial effects, while promoting macrophage polarization toward a pro-regenerative M2 phenotype. In both normal and diabetic wound models, the sprayable PEC-based powder hydrogel significantly accelerated wound closure compared to controls.