Abstract
Photothermal nanoparticles can convert absorbed light, particularly in the near-infrared region, into heat, which can be utilized in various applications, including sterilization and wound care. This study developed a thermoresponsive hydrogel composite fabricated using poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and hollow gold nanoparticles (HAuNPs) and evaluated its photothermal performance and sterilization effects under near-infrared irradiation. HAuNPs were synthesized using a galvanic replacement reaction and incorporated into the PNIPAM matrix. The HAuNPs@PNIPAM film demonstrated significant photothermal conversion efficiency, reaching temperatures of 68 and 83.8 °C for 0.018-wt% and 0.036-wt% HAuNP films, respectively. The 0.018-wt% HAuNPs@PNIPAM film completely eradicated E. coli after seven cycles, whereas the 0.036-wt% film achieved an approximately 70 % bacterial reduction in one cycle and full sterilization in two cycles. Furthermore, the film exhibited reversible swelling–shrinkage behavior and maintained thermal stability over repeated cycles. These results suggest that the HAuNPs@PNIPAM film can serve as an effective multifunctional wound dressing material, combining wound contraction and antibacterial properties, with a potentially significant impact on wound care applications.
Published Version
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