Metformin/dopamine derived bioactive carbon dots accelerate bacteria-infected wound healing

Bacterial infections have seriously impaired the wound healing. Despite numerous antibiotics have been developed to inhibit bacteria, the emergence of antibiotic resistance necessitates a rethinking of the public health crisis. In this study, we introduce the carbon dots derived from metformin and dopamine (MD-CDs) as a novel approach to promote the healing of bacterial-infected wound. Through a hydrothermal reaction, the regularly spherical MD-CDs were prepared. Owing to their inherent antibacterial property, MD-CDs effectively inhibited the wound infection and expedited the transition from the inflammation phase to the healing phase in infected wound. Additionally, MD-CDs enhanced the proliferation and migration of L929 cells, which is crucial for wound tissue regeneration. Following the treatment of infected full-thickness skin wounds, MD-CDs effectively promoted the collagen deposition and regeneration of hair follicle in the healing phase. Consequently, MD-CDs represent a bioactive nanomaterial exhibiting inherent antibacterial, offering a promising alternative for the treatment of infected wounds. Graphical abstract