Visualizing Breathable Temperature-Sensitive Multimodal Antimicrobial Nanohydrogels for Broad-Spectrum Sterilization

Wound healing is a complex and dynamic physiological process. Bacterial infection of the wound site creates an oxygen-deprived environment and leads to delayed healing and suppuration, while the nonbreathable nature of traditional hydrogel dressings poses significant challenges for wound treatment. In view of this, we developed a temperature-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-acrylic acid) hydrogel dressing with breathable pores by a 3D-printed mold, mimicking the principle of gauze to improve the hypoxic environment at the wound site. Under conditions ensuring sustainable oxygen supplementation, the antibacterial nanocomposites PCPDs loaded in the hydrogel, which possess oxidative damage and photothermal therapy (PTT) properties, can be continuously released into infected wounds via temperature-controlled regulation, enabling multimodal synergistic antibacterial treatment. More notably, the fluorescence properties of PCPDs permit the calculation of the release rate of the antibacterial nanomaterials, providing reliable data for precise treatment. In conclusion, this study provides a breathable, temperature-controlled, stimulus-responsive nanocomposite novel dressing tool for the treatment of wound infections, expanding the practical applications of these materials in clinical research.