Electro-assembly of β-chitin nanofibers to construct oriented cryogel for wound healing

•Oriented β-chitin nanofiber hydrogel was obtained by electroassembly.•The hydrogel structure and properties can be easily modulated by the process parameters.•Oriented cryogel shows superior properties in cell proliferation and wound healing.•The strategy provides a preferential route to obtain anisotropic natural nanogels.