A temperature-responsive hydrogel dressing enables on-demand drug release and visual wound monitoring

Temperature-responsive hydrogel dressings (T-r HGDS) that couple drug release to wound-state cues are promising for fast wound management, but integrating a clinically relevant thermal trigger, controlled delivery and direct visual feedback remains challenging. Here, we report a novel poly(ionic liquid) (PIL)-assisted T-r HGDS constructed with on-demand drug release capabilities, which responds to temperature changes. Reversible ionic interactions program the dressing to respond at approximately 37 °C, matching inflammation-associated local hyperthermia. Below this threshold, strengthened ionic associations compact the network, reduce hydrophilicity and suppress drug diffusion; above it, weakened interactions increase hydration, enlarge pores and accelerate release. Using norfloxacin as a model antibiotic, T-r HGDS released 11.02 µg mL^-1 drug at 36 °C over 240 min (36.71% of loading), whereas release increased to 21.04 µg mL^-1 at 40 °C (70.15% of loading). Thermally triggered release was accompanied by an opaque-to-transparent transition, with transmittance rising from 45.61% at 25 °C to 85.89% at 37 °C and 97.34% at 45 °C. The dressing also showed robust mechanical performance, cytocompatibility, antibacterial activity, antioxidant capacity and reloading recyclability. In mice, T-r HGDS-treated wounds achieved over 98.0% closure after 14 days, with enhanced epithelial regeneration, granulation formation and collagen deposition. This work offers inflammation-responsive therapy with visual monitoring for intelligent, on-demand wound care.