AgNPs/g-C3N4/PVA antibacterial hydrogel with excellent photocatalytic antibacterial activity for wound dressing

Abstract

Photocatalytic sterilization has been proven to be an effective strategy for eliminating pathogenic microorganisms, so the development of photocatalytic antibacterial hydrogel is considered to be essential for the treatment of skin wounds. Herein, a novel AgNPs/g-C₃N₄/PVA bactericidal hydrogel with excellent antibacterial activity towards Escherichia coli (E. coli) was successfully prepared via a cyclic freeze–thaw method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and other techniques were used to characterize the structure and morphology of the as-prepared bactericidal hydrogel. The mechanical properties of the bactericidal hydrogel including adhesion, tensile strength and antifatigue strength were evaluated. Full-thickness wound defect models were established to investigate its antibacterial activity. According to the bactericidal mechanism, the predominant active intermediate species are ˙OH and ˙O₂⁻. In conclusion, the as-prepared AgNPs/g-C₃N₄/PVA hydrogel has good bactericidal activity and excellent mechanical properties, which could significantly promote wound healing. This work provides new insights for the preparation of photocatalytic antibacterial hydrogels.