Fabrication of CNF-CuS Composite Hydrogel with Near-Infrared-Activated Photothermal, Photodynamic, and NO Release Capabilities

The growing danger of bacterial infections has resulted in an urgent need for developing new antibacterial approaches. In this study, cellulose nanofiber-copper sulfide (CNF-CuS), calcium peroxide (CaO 2 ), and L-arginine (LA) were incorporated into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CS) hydrogels to fabricate a multifunctional PVA/CS/CNF-CuS/CaO 2 /LA composite hydrogel with near-infrared (NIR)-activated photothermal, photodynamic, and gas therapies. Antibacterial tests on PVA/CS/CNF-CuS/CaO 2 /LA showed that, after a 10-minute NIR irradiation period, the hydrogel achieved antibacterial rates of 99.3% against E. coli and 99.7% against S. aureus. The marked improvement in bactericidal performance can be attributed to the synergistic interaction of elevated temperature, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and nitric oxide (NO). Given the effective antibacterial property of the PVA/CS/CNF-CuS/ CaO 2 /LA hydrogel, this study offers new insights into the design of composite hydrogels for wound healing and wound dressing applications.