Because of the indiscriminate use of antibiotics and the increasing threat of drug-resist bacteria, there is an urgent need to develop novel antibacterial strategies to combat infected wounds. In this work, stable tricomplex molecules (PA@Fe) assembled by protocatechualdehyde (PA) and ferric iron (Fe) were successfully synthesized and then embedded in the gelatin matrix to obtain a series of Gel-PA@Fe hydrogels. The embedded PA@Fe served as a crosslinker to improve the mechanical, adhesive and antioxidant properties of hydrogels through coordination bonds (catechol-Fe) and dynamic Schiff base bonds, meanwhile acting as a photothermal agent to convert near-infrared (NIR) light into heat to kill bacteria effectively. Importantly, in vivo evaluation through an infected full-thickness skin wound mice model revealed that Gel-PA@Fe hydrogel developed collagen deposition, and accelerated reconstruction of wound closure, indicating great potential of Gel-PA@Fe hydrogel in promoting the healing process of infected full-thickness wounds.
Keywords: Hydrogel; Photothermal antibacterial property; Wound healing.
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