Accelerating the remodeling of collagen in cutaneous full‐thickness wound using FIR soldering technology with bio‐targeting nanocomposites hydrogel

Abstract

A novel composite wound dressing hydrogel by incorporating single‐walled carbon nanotubes and indocyanine green into a dual‐crosslinked hydrogel through Schiff base reaction was developed. The objective was to prevent wound infection and enhance the thermal effect induced by laser energy. The hydrogel matrix was constructed using oxidized gelatin, pre‐crosslinked with calcium ions, along with carboxymethyl chitosan, crosslinked via Schiff base reaction. Optimization of the blank hydrogel's gelation time, swelling index, degradation rate, and mechanical properties was achieved by adding 0.1% SWCNT and 0.1% ICG. Among them, the SWCNT‐loaded hydrogel BCG‐SWCNT exhibited superior performance overall: a gelation time of 102 s; a swelling index above 30 after equilibrium swelling; a degradation rate of 100.5% on the seventh day; and a compressive modulus of 8.8 KPa. It displayed significant inhibition against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in wounds. When combined with laser energy usage, the composite hydrogel demonstrated excellent pro‐healing activity in rats.