Self-healing hydrogel based on poly (vinyl alcohol)-poly (lysine)-gum arabic accelerates diabetic wound healing under photothermal sterilization

Abstract

Diabetic wounds are a significant clinical challenge. Developing effective antibacterial dressings is crucial for preventing wound ulcers caused by bacterial infections. In this study, a self-healing antibacterial hydrogel (polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-polylysine-gum arabic, PLG hydrogels) with near-infrared photothermal response was prepared by linking PVA and a novel polysaccharide-amino acid compound (PG) through borate bonding combined with freeze-thaw cycling. Subsequently, the hydrogel was modified by incorporating inorganic nanoparticles (modified graphene oxide (GM)). The experimental results showed that the PLGM₃ hydrogels (PLG@GM hydrogels, 3.0 wt%) could effectively kill bacteria and promote diabetic wound tissue healing under 808-nm near-infrared laser irradiation. Therefore, this hydrogel system provides a new idea for developing novel dressings for treating diabetic wounds.

Keywords: Antibacterial; Diabetic wounds; Self-healing hydrogel.