ABSTRACT To address the limitations of traditional konjac glucomannan (KGM) crosslinking strategies relying on strong alkaline and oxidation conditions, as well as the growing challenge of antibiotic resistance in acne therapy, we designed a novel antibiotic‐free berberine hydrochloride (BBR)‐loaded KGM hydrogel via a one‐pot method. Biocompatible borosilicate bioglass was used as a mild crosslinker to fabricate the hydrogel through bioglass‐mediated chemical and physical interactions, with BBR synchronously encapsulated during the one‐pot process. Three hydrogel formulations with gradient BBR loadings (1, 2, and 5 wt%) were prepared. All hydrogels exhibited porous structures, favorable swelling capacity, excellent self‐healing, and injectable properties. In vitro transdermal tests demonstrated sustained and stable drug release. The BBR‐loaded hydrogels showed comedolytic ability close to that of salicylic acid, strong antibacterial activity against Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus , favorable hemocompatibility, no cytotoxicity to L929 cells, and promoted cell proliferation and migration. Among them, the 2 wt% BBR‐loaded hydrogel showed the optimal wound‐healing effect and favorable anti‐inflammatory efficacy. These findings suggest that the novel hydrogel containing 2 wt% BBR has potential for application in treating acne vulgaris.
Dou et al. (Fri,) studied this question.