Synergistic photothermal and Fe³ ⁺- activated hyaluronic acid/collagen-based antibacterial hydrogel for rapid wound repair

Rapid gelation (∼5 s) via dual-crosslinking of click chemistry and Fe³ ⁺ coordination. • Synergistic antibacterial effect of mild photothermal therapy and Fe³ ⁺-mediated Fenton reaction. • Excellent self-healing ability and strong adhesion to various substrates and tissues. • Excellent biocompatibility and Accelerated wound healing by promoting angiogenesis and collagen deposition in vivo. Multifunctional hydrogels are effective for treating injured and infected skin. These materials mimic native tissue and promote regeneration through their high-water content and biocompatibility. In this study, we developed an interpenetrating network hydrogel composed of hyaluronic acid and collagen (HA/Col) with strong tissue adhesion and synergistic antibacterial properties. The hydrogel rapidly forms within approximately 5 s through a dual-crosslinking strategy that combines bio-orthogonal click chemistry with Fe³ ⁺ coordination bonding. The resulting hydrogel demonstrates excellent self-healing ability, strong adhesion, suitable swelling and degradation profiles, and a pronounced photothermal effect. In vivo biocompatibility evaluations show no pathological changes in major organs on days 7 and 14 post-treatment. Furthermore, the hydrogel shows robust antibacterial activity and reduces local inflammation. It ultimately accelerates wound healing by promoting collagen deposition and neovascularization. Taken together, this multifunctional hydrogel holds great promise as a next-generation wound dressing for regenerative skin treatments. Download: Download high-res image (133KB) Download: Download full-size image We developed an interpenetrating network hydrogel composed of hyaluronic acid and collagen (HA/Col) with strong tissue adhesion and synergistic antibacterial properties for rapid wound repair.