<p>The skin provides a critical barrier against pathogens but is highly vulnerable to injury. Traditional dressings protect mechanically yet lack antimicrobial capacity, moist microenvironment, and may inflict secondary trauma upon removal. To overcome these limitations, an injectable, self-healing hydrogel based on oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA) and adipic dihydrazide-modified chondroitin sulfate (ADH-ChS) was developed. A dual-crosslinking strategy exploiting Schiff base reaction plus Zn²⁺ coordination yielded the OHA/ADH-ChS@Zn²⁺ network, enabling rapid gelation, injectability, and self-healing. The OHA/ADH-ChS@Zn²⁺ hydrogel exhibited good mechanical properties, swelling behavior, and degradation characteristics. <i>In vitro</i> assays demonstrated that this hydrogel displayed excellent biocompatibility and hemostatic properties. Notably, incorporation of Zn²⁺ enhanced cell migration and promoted angiogenesis, while also conferring antimicrobial activity. Overall, the OHA/ADH-ChS@Zn²⁺ hydrogel synergizes potent antimicrobial action with pro-angiogenic cues, offering a versatile next-generation dressing for infected or complex wounds.</p> Graphic abstract <p>To overcome the limitations of traditional dressings, an injectable, self-healing OHA/ADH-ChS@Zn²⁺ hydrogel was developed via dual-crosslinking (Schiff base &amp; Zn²⁺ coordination). This hydrogel not only exhibits excellent biocompatibility and hemostatic capacity but also creates an ideal moist microenvironment for healing. Crucially, the incorporated Zn²⁺ synergistically provides broad-spectrum antibacterial activity while actively promoting cell migration and angiogenesis, making it a versatile and potent dressing for managing infected and complex wounds.</p> <p></p>