Wound dressing gel with resisted bacterial penetration and enhanced re-epithelization for corneal epithelial-stromal regeneration

•A collagen-based hydrogel was fabricated by modifying collagen with methacrylate groups, followed by photo-crosslinking.•The hydrogel can serve as a physical barrier to prevent bacterial penetration and wound dehydration in injured corneas.•The hydrogel produced nanogranules adhered to the corneal stroma tissues after their dislodgement.•The hydrogel greatly enhanced re-epithelization, and thus reduced myofibroblast activation and prevented scar formation.