Nanozyme antibiotic dressings to accelerate wound healing through anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects

Chronic and refractory wounds pose significant clinical challenges due to persistent bacterial colonization, excessive inflammation, and impaired tissue regeneration. Herein, we report a multifunctional hydrogel, CuHP@GelMA, integrating CuHP nanozyme with GelMA, which combines cascade multienzyme-mimetic catalytic activity, antibacterial efficacy, anti-inflammatory function, and tissue regenerative potential. The CuHP nanozymes exhibit peroxidase (POD)-like activity to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) for bacterial membrane disruption, alongside superoxide dismutase (SOD)- and catalase (CAT)-like activities to modulate oxidative stress, effectively mitigating inflammation and cellular damage. Encapsulation within the GelMA hydrogel ensures controlled release and reduced cytotoxicity, maintaining excellent biocompatibility. In vitro, CuHP@GelMA efficiently killed Escherichia coli and MRSA and promoted proliferation of endothelial and fibroblast cells. In vivo, the hydrogel accelerated wound closure, enhanced angiogenesis and collagen remodeling, and facilitated tissue regeneration without observable systemic toxicity. This work demonstrates that CuHP@GelMA serves as a versatile and clinically translatable wound-healing platform, where cascade catalytic nanozyme activity synergizes with hydrogel delivery to provide an integrated solution for infection control, inflammation modulation, and tissue repair.