Vat Photopolymerization-Fabricated Theranostic Hydrogels for Smart Wound Management

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Integrating diagnostics and therapeutics into a single platform for wound care presents significant challenges.
• Current wound management strategies often lack personalization and real-time monitoring capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a 3D-printed theranostic hydrogel for multifunctional wound management.
• To create a system that combines real-time infection diagnostics with on-demand therapeutic delivery.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a 3D-printed hydrogel using vat photopolymerization with poly(acrylamide-co-hydroxyethyl acrylate), carboxymethyl cellulose, and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate.
• Incorporation of bromocresol purple for pH-dependent colorimetric sensing of infection and graphene oxide (GO) with levofloxacin for controlled drug delivery.

Main Results:

• The hydrogel exhibited excellent swelling capacity (>600%) for exudate absorption.
• A distinct colorimetric shift indicated infection (pH ≥ 7.0) versus healthy healing (pH 4.0-6.0).
• The system demonstrated infection-stimulated levofloxacin release (92.63% at pH 8), optimized by GO for tunable absorption and release kinetics.

Conclusions:

• The developed 3D-printed theranostic hydrogel offers a scalable and robust solution for personalized wound management.
• This integrated system synergizes real-time monitoring with on-demand therapeutic action, paving the way for future wound care.
• The platform demonstrates significant potential for advancing smart wound healing technologies.