Multifunctional Polysaccharide Self-Healing Wound Dressing: NIR-Responsive Carboxymethyl Chitosan / Quercetin Hydrogel

As the misuse of antibiotics increases bacterial resistance, the treatment of infected wounds caused by bacteria encounters significant challenges. Conventional antimicrobial dressings often fall short in their ability to inhibit bacterial infections while simultaneously promoting wound healing. To address this issue, a polysaccharide self-healing hydrogel (CPP@PDA/Que3) wound dressing is successfully developed by incorporating quercetin and polydopamine nanoparticles into a carboxymethyl chitosan matrix. The dressing can be easily injected locally to create a protective barrier over the wound, effectively stopping bleeding and rapidly inhibiting inflammation. Furthermore, the CPP@PDA/Que3 hydrogel exhibits remarkable antioxidant and antibacterial properties, stemming from the combination of quercetin and near-infrared (NIR) photothermal therapy. It demonstrates the ability to eliminate 99.52% of Staphylococcus aureus and 99.39% of Escherichia coli in in vitro antibacterial experiments. Additionally, the in vivo wound healing experiment shows a healing rate of ≈97%. The experimental results indicate that under NIR laser (808 nm) irradiation, the polysaccharide-based hydrogel dressing significantly inhibits bacterial growth, reduces oxidative stress, expedites angiogenesis, and thereby accelerates the transition from inflammation to wound healing. In summary, the CPP@PDA/Que3 hydrogel exhibits significant potential as a wound dressing, providing a novel approach for clinically advancing the treatment of bacterial wounds.