A new study from researchers at Qinghai University and the Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine found that a CBD-based hydrogel significantly improves healing in skin injuries caused by combined radiation and trauma, offering a promising new treatment for patients undergoing tumor surgery followed by radiotherapy.
The study, published in Phytomedicine, tested various formulations of hydrogels made from cannabidiol (CBD), chitosan (CS), and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)—two biocompatible materials commonly used in medical applications, in an animal model. The CMC/CS/CBD hydrogels were created without chemical crosslinkers, using only electrostatic interactions to form the structure. These were then tested in mice exposed to gamma radiation and minor circular skin wounds to mimic radiation-wound (RW) injuries.
Among the formulations, the hydrogel with a 3:1 CS-to-CMC ratio (CMC/CS3/CBD) demonstrated the best performance in terms of swelling, gel strength, and healing efficacy.
Mice treated with this hydrogel showed accelerated wound closure, reduced inflammation, and increased collagen production compared to untreated controls. Inflammatory markers such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and multiple chemokines were significantly suppressed by the treatment. Transcriptomic data also showed that the hydrogel influenced gene pathways related to lipid metabolism and skin regeneration.
Researchers say the CBD-infused hydrogel could become a valuable clinical tool for addressing radiation-wound skin injuries, providing a non-toxic and highly compatible delivery system.
For more information on this study, click here.
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