A cooling-driven self-adaptive and removable hydrogel coupled with combined chemo-photothermal sterilization for promoting infected wound healing

Nanoscale. 2023 Jul 6;15(26):11163-11178. doi: 10.1039/d3nr01624b.

Abstract

Hydrogel dressings that can fit irregular wounds, promote wound healing, and detach from wounds without damage represent the development trend of modern medical dressings. Herein, a novel composite hydrogel with excellent wound shape matching and painless removability via a gel-sol phase transition is constructed through dynamic borate ester bonds between phenylboronic acid-grafted F127 (PF127) and polydopamine-coated reduced graphene oxide/silver nanoparticles (rGO@PDA/Ag NPs). After contact with the skin tissues, the administered liquid-like sols gradually transform into solid-like gels, robustly adhering to the wound. The hydrogel dressings containing near-infrared (NIR)-responsive rGO@PDA and in situ formed Ag NPs can generate localized heat and gradually release Ag+ to realize safe, effective, and durable photothermal-chemical combined sterilization. In addition, catechol-rich PDA endows the hydrogel dressings with good antioxidant activity and adhesiveness. In vivo study results indicate that the hydrogel dressings can significantly accelerate full-thickness skin infected wound healing by eliminating bacteria, promoting collagen deposition and angiogenesis, as well as reducing inflammation. Collectively, the thermoreversible rGO@PDA/Ag-PF127 hydrogel dressings with an improved self-adapting ability, superior antimicrobial activity, and tunable adhesion appear to be a promising candidate for the treatment of infected wounds.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Hydrogels* / pharmacology
  • Metal Nanoparticles*
  • Silver
  • Wound Healing

Substances

  • Hydrogels
  • graphene oxide
  • Silver
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents