An Injectable Thermosensitive Chitosan/Astaxanthin/Ibuprofen Hydrogel Mitigates High-Voltage, Low-Current Electrical Burn Injury Through Inhibition of ROS-NF-κB Signaling-Mediated Inflammation.

Background/Objectives: High-voltage, low-current electric shocks inflict superficial second-degree burns on the skin, accompanied by a vicious cycle of excessive oxidative stress and inflammation. As efficient treatment of such electrical burns remains a clinical challenge, we explored the efficacy of an injectable thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel engineered with an antioxidant agent (astaxanthin) and an anti-inflammatory agent (ibuprofen) for the treatment of high-voltage, low-current electrical burn injuries. Methods: The proposed CS/AST/IBU hydrogel was prepared and its thermosensitivity was characterized. Subsequently, the hydrogel was injected into the wounds of male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats subjected to electrical burn injury (20 kV, 3 mA). Finally, a series of experiments were performed to elucidate the dynamics of wound healing and the mechanisms by which the hydrogel promotes wound repair. Results: The injectable hydrogel, through its thermally responsive gelation effect at 37 °C, adapts to the complex irregularities of the wound surface. This facilitates the release of astaxanthin and ibuprofen throughout the wound, which collectively diminish the formation of reactive oxygen species and MDA. Furthermore, it enhances the synthesis of endogenous antioxidants such as SOD, CAT, and GSH; encourages collagen deposition; stimulates the development of dermal appendages; and fosters neovascularization. It interrupts the deleterious cycle of oxidative stress and inflammation mediated by the NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby suppressing the expression of pro-inflammatory markers such as TNF-α, CD11b, and IL-1β while upregulating CD163, an anti-inflammatory receptor. Conclusions: The use of this multipronged, contour-adaptive hydrogel represents an effective strategy for complex wound management and demonstrates broad therapeutic potential for superficial second-degree electrical burns caused by high-voltage, low-current discharge.