Photothermal-Activated Antibacterial Amyloid-Polyphenol-Iron Hydrogels for Synergistic Wound Healing

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Materials Chemistry
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Stimuli-responsive hydrogels are crucial for advanced wound healing treatments.
• Developing hydrogels with integrated anti-inflammatory and antibacterial functionalities is a key research area.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a thermally triggered supramolecular hydrogel with combined antibacterial and photothermal capabilities for wound healing.
• To investigate the self-assembly mechanism and properties of an amyloid-polyphenol-iron (LTFe) hydrogel.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a supramolecular hydrogel using tannic acid (TA), lysozyme amyloid fibril (Lys AF) networks, and Fe3+ ions.
• Characterization of the hydrogel's self-assembly mechanism, driven by metal-ligand coordination and hydrogen bonding.
• Evaluation of photothermal conversion efficiency, antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus, biocompatibility, and in vivo wound healing performance.

Main Results:

• The LTFe hydrogel demonstrated rapid gelation and efficient photothermal transduction with 88.56% conversion efficiency.
• The hydrogel exhibited potent antibacterial efficacy, robust cycling stability, and excellent biocompatibility.
• In vivo studies showed pathogen eradication, suppressed inflammation, and accelerated wound regeneration.

Conclusions:

• The developed LTFe hydrogel offers a versatile and effective strategy for wound healing.
• This NIR-responsive hydrogel system presents high efficiency and biocompatibility for therapeutic applications.