Natural fluorescent carbon quantum dots embedded polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan film with photoregulation and high antibacterial efficiency for infected wound healing

The development of environment-friendly and efficient biological antibacterial dressings is of great significance for the repair and treatment of infectious wounds. Here, we constructed poly (vinyl alcohol)/chitosan-based films and combined them with the photoresponse properties of fluorescent carbon quantum dots extracted from natural ginger plants to develop a series of photodynamic infection wound dressings with high antibacterial properties (PCH-CDs). The composite film adapted to the patient's wound motion, had reliable mechanical properties. The results showed that the incorporation of carbon quantum dots enabled PCH-CDs₂ to induce ROS production efficiently under light irradiation, and >2.20 Log₁₀ CFU/mL of Staphylococcus aureus was inactivated after irradiation with a 405 nm light source for 40 min. The composite film showed excellent bacteriostatic and healing effects in a mouse model of infected wounds. Therefore, composite films provide efficient photodynamic antimicrobial therapy, which are promising candidate materials for the clinical application of infected wound dressings in the future.