Self-healing/pH-responsive/inherently antibacterial polysaccharide-based hydrogel for a photothermal strengthened wound dressing

Hydrogels have been used widely as wound dressings for maintaining a moist environment to rapid wound healing. However, the lack of antibacterial effect limits their further applications. Herein, we developed a polysaccharide-based hydrogel that can achieve photothermal-assisted bacterial inactivation. The hydrogel has inherent antibacterial activity due to introduction of quaternised chitosan (QCS) with a protonated amine group-modified hydrophilic polycationic structure. Under near infrared (NIR) irradiation, the antibacterial effect of the hydrogel was significantly improved because thermal ablation could also combat bacteria. The hydrogel showed self-healing property through reversible Schiff base bonds between QCS and oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA). The hydrogel is also pH-sensitive to release drugs in acidic wound. The full-thickness skin defect model showed it had a promoting effect on wound healing. Overall, we provide a theoretical basis for a promising wound dressing based on a photothermally improved polysaccharide-based hydrogel with self-healing/pH-responsive/inherently antibacterial capacity.