Silver Mineralized Protein Hydrogel with Intrinsic Cell Proliferation Promotion and Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Multidrug-resistant bacteria pose a significant clinical challenge, necessitating novel antimicrobial materials.
• Antimicrobial hydrogels show promise for infected wound healing but face limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop biocompatible, broad-spectrum antibacterial hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties.
• To investigate the efficacy of silver nanoparticle-mineralized amyloid hydrogels for wound healing.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of amyloid-based hydrogels via self-assembly and in-situ mineralization of silver nanoparticles.
• Evaluation of hydrogel biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and silver ion release kinetics.
• Assessment of antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in vitro and in vivo (mice).
• Analysis of bacterial membrane damage and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.
• Evaluation of wound healing acceleration in mice.

Main Results:

• The mineralized hydrogels exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
• Sustained silver release, prolonged antimicrobial effect, and enhanced adhesion capacity were observed.
• Hydrogels induced bacterial membrane damage and ROS toxicity.
• Significant acceleration of wound healing in mice was demonstrated, attributed to synergistic antibacterial effects and improved cell proliferation/migration.

Conclusions:

• Silver nanoparticle-mineralized amyloid hydrogels represent a promising platform for combating bacterial infections and promoting wound healing.
• The modular approach offers a versatile strategy for developing multifunctional protein hydrogels for diverse biomedical applications.
• These materials address the need for effective treatments against multidrug-resistant bacteria.