A simple yet effective hydrogel dressing for advanced microenvironmental management of diabetic wounds with intrinsic regulation

•Lipoic acid modifies chitosan into a soluble form (LAMC) that can form a hydrogel under UV light without a photoinitiator.•The LAMC hydrogel exhibits strong adhesion, making it effective in adhering to the wound and preventing detachment.•LAMC hydrogel is cell-friendly, and the hydrogel loaded with exosomes shows respectable skin wound repair effects.