ABSTRACT Currently, clinical resection of part of the mandible leaves a large potential cavity. Even after ligation of major vessels, microvascular bleeding and tissue fluid accumulate in this space, forming hematomas or seromas. Moreover, hematomas serve as an ideal bacterial culture medium, significantly increasing the risk of infection. To address this, this study developed a light‐responsive composite hydrogel material composed of methacrylated gelatin (GelMA), oxidized dextran (ODex), and dopamine (DA) for post‐mandibular resection filling, hemostasis, antibacterial effects, and wound repair following mandibular resection. This material undergoes rapid cross‐linking of double bonds upon ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, forming a hydrogel with excellent mechanical properties and a stable three‐dimensional network structure. The aldehyde groups provided by ODex form a secondary network with the amino groups in GelMA, further enhancing the mechanical properties of the hydrogel. The incorporation of DA significantly improves the material's tissue adhesion in moist environments and confers antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties, helping to alleviate local inflammatory responses and promote wound healing. In vitro experiments demonstrate the hydrogel's excellent biocompatibility, hemostatic properties, antibacterial capabilities, and ability to promote fibroblast migration. Additionally, its injectability and photopolymerization operability facilitate adaptation to complex mandibular defect geometries during clinical procedures, showcasing promising application potential.
Yu et al. (Sun,) studied this question.