Integrated molecular functions in photo-generated hydrogels for wound healing

Abstract

Photo-generated antimicrobial hydrogels, typically composed of a photoinitiator, a photocatalyst, and a monomer, represent a promising advancement in wound healing applications. These hydrogels offer several advantages, including light-controlled on-demand gel formation, localized antimicrobial action, and improved tissue regeneration. However, existing systems often suffer from excessive employment of different molecules to realize required functionalities, which hinders their practical clinical use. In this study, we present a double-integrated molecular design strategy, i.e., performing two molecular functions with a single molecule, to realize reduced use of molecular components to maintain functionality. We also show that such photo-generated hydrogels demonstrate equally excellent performance in wound healing, including non-hemolytic properties and strong adhesion. Control experiments performed on wounds infected with P. aeruginosa further revealed that the hydrogel accelerated recovery compared to standard treatments. These findings suggest that photo-generated hydrogels with a reduced number of components can offer an enhanced solution for treating infected wounds, paving the way for more efficient and more practical wound care technologies.