Bacterial cellulose nanofiber reinforced self-healing hydrogel to construct a theranostic platform of antibacterial and enhanced wound healing

Abstract

In order to promote wound healing, self-healing hydrogels with moisturizing property are employed as wound dressing. In this study, bacterial cellulose nanofibers (BCN) with high mechanical strength are used as reinforcement to improve the mechanical properties of self-healing hydrogels. A multifunctional self-healing hydrogel has been constructed by incorporating natural biomass, including Ag hybrid bacterial cellulose nanofiber (Ag-BCN), resveratrol (Res), and carbon nanodots (CNDs). The results of in vitro experiments demonstrate that the mechanical strength of the hybrid hydrogel was increased by 6 times with the addition of Ag-BCN, which also offers excellent antibacterial efficiency (S. aureus 99.99 % and E. coli 99.68 %). The hydrogel with CNDs can observe the healing process of the crack in real time and realize the controlled release of Res through photothermal effect. Moreover, the results of animal model experiments indicate that the prepared hydrogel could reduce the infection of the wound, effectively shorten the progress of wound healing (from 21d to 14 d). All the results imply that the prepared hydrogel has great promise in the application of skin wound healing.