Advance in hydrogels combined with photothermal/photodynamic therapy for bacterial infection

Abstract

Photo-responsive antimicrobial materials have emerged as critical biomaterials, celebrated for their remarkable efficacy in combating bacterial infections. Hydrogels, which consist of three-dimensional polymeric networks formed through physical interactions or covalent bonds, serve as an ideal platform for such applications.Recently, hydrogels with photo-responsive antimicrobial properties have garnered substantial attention in the field of infection control. These advanced hydrogels exhibit diverse and advantageous features, including exceptional water swelling capacity, superior oxygen permeability, high biocompatibility, facile drug loading and release capabilities, and structural versatility. Herein, we present a comprehensive review of †The authors contributed equally.