An Antibacterial and Anti‐Oxidative Hydrogel Dressing for Promoting Diabetic Wound Healing and Real‐Time Monitoring Wound pH Conditions with a NIR Fluorescent Imaging System

Abstract

The design and synthesis of multifunctional chitosan hydrogels based on polymerized ionic liquid and a near‐infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe (PIL‐CS) is a promising strategy, which not only prevents the transition from acute to chronic wounds, but also provides prompt measures regarding microenvironmental alterations in chronic wounds. PIL‐CS hydrogel can real‐time visualize wound pH through in vivo NIR fluorescent imaging and also feature the pH‐responsive sustained drug release, such as antioxidant, to eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and to boost diabetic wound healing. PIL‐CS hydrogel is specific, sensitive, stable, and reversible in response to pH changes at the wound site. It, therefore, enables real‐time monitoring for a dynamic pH change in the microenvironment of irregular wounds. PIL‐CS hydrogel is also designed to possess many merits including high water containment and swelling rate, good biocompatibility, electrical conductivity, antifreeze, tissue adhesion, hemostatic performance, and efficient antibacterial activity against MRSA. In vivo studies showed that PIL‐CS hydrogel provided fast diabetic wound healing support, promoted vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production, and reduced ROS and tumor necrosis factor (TNF‐α) generation. The results support that the hydrogels coupled with NIR fluorescent probes can be an excellent diabetic wound dressing for enhancing and real‐time monitoring skin restoration and regeneration.

Recent advances of hydrogels as smart dressings for diabetic wounds

“…By measuring changes in fluorescence intensity, rapid and real-time monitoring of the dynamic pH in the wound microenvironment can be achieved. 104…”

“…(E) Potential application of the hydrogel in wound monitoring as a strain sensor. 104 Copyright 2023, Elsevier. Abbreviation: PIL-CS (poly-ionic liquid and chitosan), PPA-Ag (poly(acrylic acid)-g-poly(n-isopropylacrylamide) with silver nanowires), PAA (polyacrylic acid), AM (acrylamide).…”

“…Copyright 2023, the royal society of chemistry. (E) Potential application of the hydrogel in wound monitoring as a strain sensor 104. Copyright 2023, Elsevier.…”

Hydrogel-based dressings designed to facilitate wound healing

“…13d). 310 On the other hand, Liu et al created a highly transparent conductive hydrogel patch by incorporating poly(tannic acid)-doped polypyrrole nanofibrils within a poly(acrylamide-acrylated adenine) polymer matrix. This patch had the ability to indirectly monitor glucose levels at the wound site.…”

Double Cross-Linked Hydrogel Dressings Based on Triblock Copolymers Bearing Antifreezing, Antidrying, and Inherent Antibacterial Properties

“…In addition, the volume of the hydrogel increased sharply after swelling, and the color of the hydrogel changed from light yellow to near colorless due to the absorption of a large amount of water (Figure S1). The excellent swelling ratio and protein adsorption capacity of the hydrogels are conducive to wound healing, 35 so the protein adsorption capacity of the hydrogels was studied next.…”