Eco-friendly cellulose-based hydrogel functionalized by NIR-responsive multimodal antibacterial polymeric ionic...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Materials Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Growing demand for advanced wound dressings integrating multiple therapeutic modalities.
• Need for sustainable and effective antibacterial materials in healthcare.
• Challenges in developing wound dressings with both antibacterial and photothermal properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel multimodal antibacterial cellulose wound dressing (MACD) incorporating photothermal therapy (PTT).
• To investigate the antibacterial efficacy, biocompatibility, and wound healing acceleration capabilities of the fabricated dressing.

Main Methods:

• Graft polymerization of an imidazolium ionic liquid monomer with an iron complex anion structure onto cellulose.
• Characterization of hydrogel properties, including photothermal conversion efficiency and antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli.
• Assessment of biocompatibility through hemolysis assays and cell viability tests.
• In vivo evaluation of wound healing acceleration in animal models.

Main Results:

• Fabricated hydrogels demonstrated efficient photothermal conversion (68.67%) and intrinsic antibacterial properties.
• Achieved high antibacterial ratios: 99.57% against S. aureus and 99.16% against E. coli.
• Exhibited low hemolysis rates (<5%) and excellent cell viability (>85%).
• In vivo studies confirmed significant acceleration of wound healing.

Conclusions:

• The proposed strategy successfully created a high-performance MACD with PTT capabilities.
• The developed cellulose-based hydrogel dressing shows significant potential for advanced wound management.
• This work offers a new approach for designing and preparing multifunctional wound dressings.