A multi-enzyme-like activity exhibiting mussel-inspired nanozyme hydrogel for bacteria-infected wound healing

Biomater Sci. 2023 Apr 11;11(8):2711-2725. doi: 10.1039/d2bm02004a.

Abstract

Bacterial infection, tissue hypoxia, and inflammatory and oxidative stress are several key problems in wound healing of chronic infections. Herein, a multi-enzyme-like activity exhibiting multifunctional hydrogel made up of mussel-inspired carbon dot reduced-Ag (CDs/AgNPs) and Cu/Fe-nitrogen-doped carbon (Cu,Fe-NC) was designed. Due to the loss of glutathione (GSH) and oxidase (OXD)-like activity of the nanozyme (decomposes O2 to generate a superoxide anion radical (O2˙-) and hydroxyl radical production (˙OH)), the multifunctional hydrogel exhibited excellent antibacterial performance. More importantly, during the bacterial elimination within the inflammatory phase of wound healing, the hydrogel could act as a catalase (CAT)-like agent to supply adequate O2 by catalyzing intracellular H2O2 for hypoxia abatement. The catechol groups on the CDs/AgNPs endowed them with the dynamic redox equilibrium properties of phenol-quinones, thus providing the hydrogel with mussel-like adhesion properties. The multifunctional hydrogel was shown to excellently promote bacterial infection wound healing and maximize the efficiency of nanozymes.

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria
  • Carbon
  • Glutathione
  • Humans
  • Hydrogels*
  • Hydrogen Peroxide*
  • Hypoxia

Substances

  • Hydrogels
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Carbon
  • Glutathione