Improving injectable self-activating hydrogel with silver-based nanozyme for light-activated antibacterial wound healing

The functionalized hydrogel exhibits 67% porosity and can inhibit Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) by 91.2% and 90.3%, respectively.

• Injectable hydrogel based on polyvinyl alcohol and sodium alginate is enhanced with Ag@MXene nanozyme for improved wound repair functionality.
• The hydrogel demonstrates excellent compressive and tensile properties, with elongation reaching up to 157%.
• Under near-infrared laser irradiation, the hydrogel shows effective photothermal conversion and reactive oxygen species generation.
• Molecular biology experiments indicate that the composite hydrogel promotes angiogenesis and wound healing by increasing anti-inflammatory factor expression.
• The results suggest that the injectable hydrogel may accelerate healing in diabetic wounds.

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