Bioinspired adhesive hydrogel incorporated with PDA@CuMOF for infected wound therapy

Novel PPCM hydrogel integrates mussel-inspired wet adhesion and CuMOF. • The composite shows robust tissue adhesion and sustained copper ion release. • Excellent antibacterial efficacy against MRSA and E. coli is achieved. • Hydrogel significantly accelerates infected wound closure and neovascularization. • The platform combines ECM-mimetic, antimicrobial, and pro-healing functions. Infected wounds pose a significant clinical challenge due to bacterial colonization, excessive inflammation, and impaired tissue regeneration. Inspired by the adhesive properties of mussel foot proteins, this study developed a novel multifunctional wound dressing by incorporating polydopamine (PDA)-modified copper-based metal-organic framework (CuMOF) into a polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel network. The synthesized PEG/PDA@CuMOF (PPCM) hydrogel combines the extracellular matrix (ECM)-mimetic properties of PEG with the robust wet adhesion, antimicrobial, and pro-regenerative activities of CuMOF. Comprehensive characterization confirmed successful PDA coating on CuMOF and covalent integration into the hydrogel, which exhibited excellent porosity and swelling capacity. In vitro assessments demonstrated outstanding biocompatibility, significant promotion of cell proliferation and migration, and powerful antibacterial efficacy against both methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli ( E. coli ). In a rat model of full-thickness MRSA-infected wounds, the PPCM significantly accelerated wound closure, enhanced collagen deposition, promoted neovascularization, and effectively reduced bacterial burden, all while maintaining excellent systemic biocompatibility. These findings highlight the PPCM hydrogel as a promising multifunctional platform for advanced infected wound management.