Double network hydrogel based on curdlan and flaxseed gum with photothermal antibacterial properties for accelerating infectious wound healing

Abstract

The healing of infected wounds has always been a clinical challenge. With the increasing threat of drug resistance due to antibiotic overuse, it is imperative to improve antibacterial wound dressings. In this study, we designed a double network (DN) hydrogel via a "one pot method" with antibacterial activity, and natural polysaccharides with the potential to promote skin wound healing were used. That is, a DN hydrogel matrix was formed by the hydrogen bond crosslinking of curdlan and the covalent crosslinking of flaxseed gum under the action of borax. We added ε-polylysine (ε-PL) as a bactericide. Tannic acid/ferric ion (TA/Fe³⁺) complex was also introduced into the hydrogel network as a photothermal agent to induce photothermal antibacterial properties. The hydrogel had fast self-healing, tissue adhesion, mechanical stability, good cell compatibility and photothermal antibacterial activity. In vitro studies of hydrogel showed its ability to inhibit S. aureus and E. coli. In vivo experiments also demonstrated the significant healing effect of hydrogel when used to treat wounds infected by S. aureus by promoting collagen deposition and accelerating the formation of skin appendage. This work provides a new design for the preparation of safe antibacterial hydrogel wound dressings and demonstrates great potential for promoting wound healing of bacterial infections.

Keywords: Hydrogels; Polysaccharides; Wound healing.