Multifunctional Polyphenolic Nanoparticle-Cross-Linked Aminoglycoside Hydrogels

Abstract

Multifunctional hydrogels with integrated antioxidant and antibacterial activities are vital for modulating the wound microenvironment, mitigating oxidative stress, and preventing infection. However, efficient construction of such hydrogels with programmable responsiveness and structural integrity that can be tailored to therapeutic demands remains challenging. Herein, we developed a modular, functionally programmable hydrogel platform constructed via an in situ Schiff base reaction between aldehyde-functionalized polyphenolic nanoparticles and aminoglycoside antibiotics. The resulting nanocomposite hydrogels exhibited excellent mechanical properties, pH-responsiveness, biodegradability, and biocompatibility, attributed to the synergistic interactions between the functional nanoscale building blocks and cross-linkers. In vitro and in vivo evaluations confirmed the hydrogel's potent antibacterial and antioxidant capabilities, enabling effective infection control and attenuation of oxidative stress in wound environments. This strategy offers a versatile route for engineering adaptive, multifunctional hydrogels for advanced wound management.