Fabrication and characterization of biocompatible BPC-157 based chitosan hydrogel

A BPC-157-loaded chitosan hydrogel formed a porous, injectable, self-healing, adhesive material that held the peptide well, released most of it within a day, inhibited E. coli and S. aureus growth, and stayed below a 5% hemolysis threshold. The authors conclude it is a promising multifunctional hydrogel for biomedical use.

Journal article — In vitro material characterization study. Interventions: BPC-157 loaded chitosan hydrogel (CH/BPC).

The CH/BPC hydrogel appeared porous on SEM and TEM, and FTIR confirmed hydrogen bonding between BPC-157 and the chitosan backbone. It had a water vapor transmission rate of 2,270 ± 35 g/m2/day, encapsulated 98.9 ± 0.8% of BPC-157, and released 81.2 ± 2.9% within 24 hours. Antibacterial inhibition was up to 45.9% against E. coli and 65.0% against S. aureus. Hemolysis was less than 5%, indicating acceptable hemocompatibility.

Researchers studying BPC-157 would care because this paper demonstrates that BPC-157 can be incorporated into a chitosan hydrogel with high encapsulation, sustained initial release, and antibacterial activity. It does not establish clinical efficacy, dosing, safety in living systems, or any therapeutic indication.

Key findings

• FTIR showed hydrogen bonding between BPC-157 and the chitosan backbone, indicating peptide incorporation.
• The composite hydrogel had a water vapor transmission rate of 2,270 ± 35 g/m2/day.
• It encapsulated 98.9 ± 0.8% of BPC-157 and released 81.2 ± 2.9% within 24 hours.
• Antibacterial inhibition reached 45.9% against Escherichia coli and 65.0% against Staphylococcus aureus.
• Hemolysis was less than 5%, indicating acceptable hemocompatibility.
• The hydrogel was injectable, self-healing, and adhesive.

Limitations

• Only in vitro material characterization was performed; no animal or human testing is reported.
• Antibacterial activity is reported only as percent inhibition, with no minimum inhibitory concentration or kill kinetics.
• No in vivo release, safety, or therapeutic efficacy data are provided.
• The abstract does not report comparison against a control hydrogel formulation.

The record

• Journal: 3 Biotech 16(8): 312
• Published: 2026-07-06
• PMID: 42555375 — DOI: 10.1007/s13205-026-04951-4
• Author countries: India

Peptide profiles: BPC-157.

All indexed evidence: BPC-157 trials & papers.

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