An in-situ self-gelation photothermal alginate-based sponge dressing for rapid and effective wound management
Summary: A team of researchers has designed an innovative alginate-based sponge dressing (Alg-BA@PDA) that rapidly transforms into a gel within 5 seconds of contact with wound fluid. This self-gelation property allows it to conform tightly to wound surfaces. The addition of polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA-NPs) provides antimicrobial, antioxidant, and photothermal activity, leading to accelerated wound healing in preclinical studies.
Key Highlights:
- Rapid self-gelation: Dynamic borate ester bonds enable fast sponge-to-gel transition, adapting to the wound’s shape.
- Photothermal antibacterial effect: PDA-NPs generate mild heat under near-infrared (NIR) light, effectively reducing bacterial burden.
- Anti-inflammatory and angiogenic: Treatment reduced inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) and increased angiogenic markers such as VEGF, HIF-1α, bFGF, and eNOS.
- Improved healing: In full-thickness wound models, Alg-BA@PDA with NIR exposure accelerated closure, enhanced collagen deposition, and promoted vascularization.
- Biocompatibility: Showed low cytotoxicity, high cell viability, low hemolysis, and consistent stability across different PDA-NP concentrations.
Read the full article in NPG Asia Materials
Keywords:
Jiahao An,
Lin Li,
Tingting Wu,
Zudong Lin,
Ruohan Ren,
Toyohisa Fujita,
Qian Liu,
Alg-BA@PDA,
self-gelation sponge dressing,
photothermal dressing,
antibacterial wound dressing,
wound healing innovation