Charge‐Transfer Polymeric Hydrogels with Self‐Healing, Injectable, Thermosensitive, Adhesive, and Antibacterial Properties for Diabetic Wound Healing

Abstract Charge transfer (CT) complexes are self‐assembled structures with a variety of attractive properties, but little is known about their performance in the construction of polymeric hydrogels. Herein, a series of hydrogels (CT‐hydrogels) with CT complex are designed and synthesized. The CT complex, consisting of pyranine derivative (sodium 8‐((4‐vinylbenzyl)oxy)pyrene‐1,3,6‐trisulfonate, VB‐HPTS) and viologen derivative (1‐methyl‐1′‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐[4,4′‐bipyridine]‐1,1′‐diium chloride iodide, VB‐MV), serves as the cross‐linker, and N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)acrylamide is used as the backbone monomer. The CT complex allows CT‐hydrogels to have rapid self‐healing property, injectability, thermosensitivity, good adhesive strength on skin, and excellent antibacterial performance against both Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria. In addition, they have good biocompatibility and long‐term stability in both ambient and aqueous environments, showing potential application as wound dressing. Their performance in diabetic wound healing displays high wound healing rate, effectively inhibits inflammatory infiltration, and promotes neovascularization as compared with commercial wound dressings. The results of this study suggest that the multifunctional CT‐hydrogels are of great value in wound healing, and show a promising future to design hydrogels with CT complexes.