Aug 2026· International Journal of Biological Macromolecules· pp.
153929
· 0 citations· 58 references
Medicine
Abstract
Infected burn wounds are characterized by bacterial invasion, oxidative stress, and persistent inflammation, which severely impair tissue regeneration. Herein, we report a crosslinker-free, hydrogen-bonded cationic guar gum hydrogel (CBBM) co-loaded with berberine (BBR) and MnO2-coated black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNS@MnO2) for the microenvironment-adaptive treatment of infected burn wounds. The dynamic guar gum network endowed the hydrogel with injectability, self-healing ability, and conformal adaptability. BPNS@MnO2 exhibited pH-dependent enzyme-like activities, including OXD-like antibacterial activity under acidic conditions and SOD-/CAT-like ROS-scavenging activity under near-neutral conditions and endowed the hydrogel with NIR-triggered photothermal responsiveness. Moreover, NIR irradiation further enhanced the antibacterial efficacy and moderately enhanced BBR release from the hydrogel. In vitro, CBBM combined with NIR irradiation achieved potent antibacterial efficacy against S. aureus and E. coli under the tested conditions and reduced intracellular ROS levels. In vivo, the CBBM + NIR treatment accelerated infected burn wound healing, achieving a wound closure rate of 97.53 ± 2.01% by day 14, accompanied by reduced inflammation, enhanced collagen deposition, and increased expression of the angiogenesis-related markers VEGF and CD31. These results demonstrate that the CBBM hydrogel is a promising multifunctional guar gum-based dressing for infected burn wound healing by integrating local drug delivery, catalytic regulation, and photothermal activation.
This work demonstrates a safe and effective strategy for combating MDR infections through the combined action of photothermal therapy and nanozyme catalysis, offering promising potential for clinical wound management.
Weiwei Zhang, Lixiang Fan, Xuanjun Zhang et al.· ACS Applied Materials and In...· 0 citations
The ability of hydrogels to promote wound healing has been extensively studied. Developing multifunctional hydrogel dressings to address the complex microenvironment of infected wounds remains a significant challenge and focus in current research. Herein, inspired by adhesion chemistry, we constructed a multifunctional composite hydrogel (GelDA/OPL) with excellent adhesion, self-healing properties, injectability, and photothermal antibacterial activity through Schiff base crosslinking between dopamine-modified gelatin (GelDA) and oxidized pullulan (OPL). By varying the concentration of OPL, the mechanical and rheological properties of GelDA/OPL can be appropriately adjusted. Furthermore, by introducing phycocyanin-modified CeO2@PC NPs, we endowed GelDA/OPL with remarkable antioxidant characteristics capable of rapidly scavenging ˙OH, ABTS˙+, and DPPH˙ radicals. The results indicate that the incorporation of catechol groups not only enhanced the adhesive performance of GelDA/OPL/CeO2@PC hydrogels but also imparted exceptional photothermal conversion efficiency under 808 nm laser irradiation, effectively inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The applicability of GelDA/OPL/CeO2@PC hydrogels in promoting wound healing in vivo was further validated using a full-thickness skin defect infection model in rats. Overall, the prepared GelDA/OPL/CeO2@PC hydrogel represents a promising multifunctional wound dressing that contributes to accelerating the healing process for infected wounds.
Chen Zhang, Surui Yang, Zhi Xu et al.· Journal of materials chemist...· 0 citations
Bacterial infection impeded wound healing, causing significant discomfort and endangering the lives of patients. Overusing antibiotics to address such infections has spurred drug resistance in certain pathogenic bacteria. Hence, there is a pressing demand for a non-antibiotic-dependent versatile dressing to amplify on-site antibacterial efficacy, effectively averting wound infections, and fostering wound recovery. In this study, a pioneering near-infrared activated antibacterial EPLGA/OHADA@HMCuS hydrogel was formulated by doping hollow mesoporous copper sulfide (HMCuS) into the three-dimensional spatial network structure formed between gallic acid-modified ε-polylysine (EPL-GA) and dopamine-engineered and oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHADA). This hydrogel not only exhibited exceptional mechanical characteristics and tissue adhesion but also showcased favorable biocompatibility, sustaining cellular viability. The obtained EPLGA/OHADA@ HMCuS hydrogel not only demonstrated robust antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus under laser irradiation but also exhibited a pronounced cell migration-promoting effect. In mouse models of tail amputation and liver injury, this hydrogel exhibited remarkable hemostatic capabilities and was also capable of substantially expediting wound healing in bacterial-infected wounds-bearing rats, as evidenced by its promotion of collagen deposition and angiogenesis, along with the downregulation of inflammatory factors. Hence, this multifunctional EPLGA/OHADA@HMCuS hydrogel stands out as a highly promising wound-assisting material, exhibiting broad potential for clinical application in the future management of infected wounds.
N. Wang, Wei Jiang, Feiyu Lu et al.· Biomaterials Advances· 0 citations
Diabetic wounds pose a major clinical challenge owing to their complex microenvironment and persistent inflammation. To address this issue, we engineered a multifunctional, in situ photocrosslinkable composite hydrogel (CMCSMA/F127/TPGS@α-MG) to promote wound healing. To overcome the hydrophobicity of the antimicrobial agent α-mangostin (α-MG), it was first encapsulated in F127/TPGS nanomicelles. These micelles were then integrated into a methacrylated carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCSMA) matrix, enabling rapid conformal gelation upon 405 nm light irradiation. The resulting hydrogel exhibited a biphasic sustained-release profile, excellent biocompatibility, and potent contact-killing and anti-biofilm activities against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). In an S. aureus-infected diabetic wound model, the hydrogel significantly accelerated wound closure, achieving 99.6% closure by day 14, and facilitated high-quality tissue regeneration characterized by complete re-epithelialization and orderly collagen deposition. Furthermore, an integrated approach combining network pharmacology, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and experimental validation revealed that the therapeutic efficacy of sustained local α-MG delivery involves the modulation of the PPAR-γ pathway. This regulatory process suppresses the NF-κB/COX-2 inflammatory axis and upregulates pro-angiogenic markers, including VEGF, CD31, and α-SMA. Collectively, this dual-action platform, which synergizes physical barrier protection with targeted molecular modulation, represents a promising translational strategy for refractory diabetic wounds.
Yuan Ma, Xu Liu, Zhewen Deng et al.· International Journal of Bio...· 0 citations
Infectious wounds are plagued by persistent infection, uncontrolled inflammation, and delayed repair, while traditional therapies suffer from the poor solubility of natural drugs, low bioavailability, and bacterial drug resistance. To address these issues, this study developed a photo-responsive chitosan composite hydrogel (BBR-AS@Ce6@Matrix) cross-linked by chitosan (CS) and oxidized sodium alginate (OSA), co-loaded with Berberine–Asiaticoside cocrystal (BBR-AS) and chlorin e6-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (Ce6@CS NPs). The BBR-AS co-crystal was prepared by solvent method and verified to significantly improve the solubility and dissolution of asiaticoside. The Ce6@CS NPs were fabricated via non-solvent-assisted counterion complexation, showing high encapsulation efficiency, uniform particle size, and efficient singlet oxygen generation under irradiation. The hydrogel exhibited a three-dimensional porous network, favorable rheology, high water content, pH-dependent swelling and erosion behaviors, and significantly promoted BBR/AS release in vitro. In vitro experiments demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, good cytocompatibility, and enhanced migration of L929 and Hacat cells. In a rat infectious wound model, the hydrogel combined with light irradiation markedly accelerated wound closure, promoted collagen deposition and angiogenesis, upregulated VEGF/CD31, and downregulated TNF-α/IL-6. In conclusion, BBR-AS@Ce6@Matrix integrates co-crystal solubilization, nanoparticle-facilitated release, and photodynamic synergy to achieve antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic and tissue remodeling effects, providing a promising multifunctional platform for infectious wound repair.
Muxi Sui, Jin Niu, Shuwen Pang et al.· Gels· 0 citations
Burn wounds are often complicated by infection, inflammation, and severe pain. Conventional hydrogel dressings fail to meet the complex demands of infected burn wounds due to poor mechanical compliance and limited biological functions. To overcome these bottlenecks and actively regulate the wound microenvironment, a functionalized guar gum-based hydrogel (GEB-ME) featuring a multi-dynamic cross-linked network was developed. The hydrogel demonstrated conformal filling of irregular wounds and rapid self-healing of its mechanical integrity following damage. Capable of adhering to the wound site and accommodating deformations from external mechanical stress and physiological movement, the hydrogel provided continuous, reliable barrier protection for complex wounds. Furthermore, it exhibited an analgesic effect, effectively eliminated pathogenic bacteria, and scavenged reactive oxygen species generated by oxidative stress. The hydrogel also downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) while promoting angiogenesis. Benefiting from its excellent biocompatibility, the hydrogel showed significant therapeutic efficacy in an in vivo model of infected burn wounds. Its unique integration of the multi-dynamic network and intrinsic bioactivity endows the hydrogel with adaptability and microenvironment-regulating capabilities, offering a promising strategy for burn wound management.
Haoping Wang, Yi Guo, Lan Zhang et al.· International Journal of Bio...· 0 citations