Multifunctional Chitosan Hydrogel Integrated with Penicillin-Grafted MXene for Synergistic Antibacterial Application

Hydrogels have received significant attention in the biomedical field, but traditional antibacterial hydrogels have certain limitations in terms of antibacterial activity, resistance, and functionality. In this study, we present a multifunctional hydrogel synthesized through a one-step process using carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) as the matrix, tannic acid (TA) as the cross-linking agent, and penicillin (PG)-loaded MXene as the drug additive, for antibacterial therapy. In this system, the composite hydrogel is physically cross-linked through ionic bonds and hydrogen bonds between CMCS and TA, exhibiting good injectability, self-healing properties, and tissue adhesiveness. The incorporation of MXene drug-loaded with penicillin imparts photothermal properties to the hydrogel, thereby enabling a synergistic antibacterial effect between the components, resulting in stable antibacterial activity. In addition, the hydrogel exhibits favorable biocompatibility, as well as the capacity to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and rapidly arrest hemorrhaging, showing promising applications in wound care.