Wound infection has been a persistent problem that is common and costly. Thermosensitive hydrogel has been demonstrated to be a suitable dressing candidate due to its high moldability, easy administration and ability to maintain a moist topical environment at the wound bed. In the present study, a novel thermosensitive hydrogel was successfully prepared and characterized to have a porous inner structure and a sustained curcumin‑releasing profile. The wound healing ability of the hydrogel was investigated in a wound infection model in rats. On analysis, it was observed that the hydrogel complex‑dressed wounds exhibited a faster wound closure rate compared with gauze‑covered wounds, which was paralleled with improved histological outcomes that were observed. Additionally, the results of in vitro antimicrobial, anti‑oxidant, western blot analysis and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays indicated that the hydrogel complex had distinct anti‑oxidative, antimicrobial and anti‑nuclear factor‑κB‑signaling capacities. These results suggest that this novel hydrogel may be a suitable candidate for facilitating the healing of infected cutaneous wounds in rats.

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