PVA/WO_3-/Ag₂WO₄ Hydrogel for Enhanced Photocatalytic Disinfection and Accelerated Wound Healing

Bacterial wound infections are one of the growing health and safety threats to the public. In this study, WO_3-x/Ag₂WO₄ photocatalysts were synthesized, and heterogeneous structures were constructed for non-antibiotic bactericidal use. Due to the heterostructure constructed with Ag₂WO₄, the photogenerated carrier separation efficiency and reactive oxygen generation capacity of WO_3- were improved, which in turn improved the inactivation rate of bacteria. Also, this photocatalyst was loaded into PVA hydrogel for photodynamic treatment of bacterial wound infections. This hydrogel dressing was demonstrated to have good biosafety by in vitro cytotoxicity tests and to have a wound healing-promoting effect by in vivo wound healing experiments. This light-driven antimicrobial hydrogel has the potential ability to treat bacterial wound infections.