Photothermal Antibacterial Hydrogel

NIR-Driven Sterilization & Healing

Injectable, self-healing, and tissue-adhesive hydrogel that synergistically eradicates both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria under NIR irradiation and markedly accelerates full-thickness skin wound repair.

Ma, Min · Liu, Taiyu · Chun, Wang · Yunqi, Liu · Fan, Wenhui · Yue, Su · Li, Hong · Li, Mingxue

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 2026

Specifications

Antibacterial rate against E. coli

{'zh': '99.98', 'en': '99.98'} %

Antibacterial rate against S. aureus

{'zh': '99.99', 'en': '99.99'} %

Healing rate

{'zh': '98.49', 'en': '98.49'} %

Advantages

Synergistic eradication

The photothermal effect of mPDA synergizes with the intrinsic antibacterial activity of HL, achieving over 99.9% eradication of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Accelerates healing

Promotes collagen deposition and angiogenesis, achieving a 98.49% healing rate in a mouse full-thickness skin wound model within 10 days.

Injectable & self-healing

Based on quadruple hydrogen bonding and interpenetrating polymer network, the hydrogel is injectable, self-healing, and tissue-adhesive, adapting to irregular wounds.

Applications

• wound dressings：For infected wounds, kills bacteria and accelerates healing
• antibacterial materials：NIR-triggered photothermal killing, avoiding drug resistance
• self-healing materials：Self-heals after injection, adapting to dynamic wounds
• wound repair：Promotes collagen deposition and angiogenesis, accelerating repair
• wearable medical：Injectable and adhesive, self-heals with body movement