Indocyanine green (ICG)-loaded Ti3C2Tx MXene/Bletilla striata polysaccharide nanocomposite hydrogel for synergistic photothermal-photodynamic antibacterial therapy and wound healing

As a wound management strategy, this study developed a nanocomposite hydrogel based on the photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy of nanomaterials, as well as the effects of Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP). In this research, MXene nanosheets loaded with indocyanine green were embedded into a hydrogel doped with BSP. By combining the photothermal effect and photodynamic effect, the treatment of wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus was achieved under 808 nm near-infrared light irradiation (NIR). The characterization results of the hydrogel showed that it had good adhesiveness with an adhesive strength of 629 KPa ± 15.52 KPa and excellent biocompatibility; the swelling rate after 48 h was 485.53 % ± 0.26 %. In terms of antibacterial performance, the hydrogel had an antibacterial rate of over 90 % against Staphylococcus aureus . In addition, it could significantly promote the deposition of collagen and angiogenesis in infected wounds. When applied to wound treatment, the wound closure rate reached 98 % after 14 days, the collagen fraction of the healed wound was 87.63 % ± 1.81 %, and the epidermis thickness was 130.33 μm ± 1.25 μm. This indicated that the nanocomposite hydrogel dressing could effectively promote wound healing.