Water soluble AIEgen-based thermosensitive and antibacterial hydroxypropyl chitin hydrogels for non-invasive visualization and wound healing

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 319; p. 121186
• Main Authors: Huang, Long, Cai, Mingzhen, Qiao, Qianqian, Li, Taotao, Chen, Junyu, Jiang, Xulin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2023
• Subjects: AIEgen; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; antibacterial properties; biocompatibility; biodegradability; body temperature; chemical bonding; chitin; Chitin - pharmacology; fluorescence; Fluorescence imaging; Hydrogels; Hydrogels - pharmacology; irradiation; quaternary ammonium compounds; reactive oxygen species; Reactive Oxygen Species - pharmacology; solar radiation; Sunlight-triggered; Synergetic antibacterial; thermosensitivity; Water; water solubility; Wound Healing; AIEgen; Fluorescence imaging; Hydrogels; 4-(Diphenylamino) Benzaldehyde (PubChem CID: 77846); Trifluoroacetic acid (PubChem CID: 6422); Piperidine (PubChem CID: 8082); Sunlight-triggered; Sodium hydroxide (PubChem CID: 14798); Urea (PubChem CID: 1176); Propylene oxide (PubChem CID: 6378); 4-Picoline (PubChem CID: 7963); Synergetic antibacterial; Chitin (PubChem CID: 6857375); tert-Butyl (3-bromopropyl) carbamate (PubChem CID: 4460490)
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121186

Antimicrobial hydrogels containing antibacterial agents have been extensively studied for postoperative infections, wound repair and tissue engineering. However, the abuse of antibiotics has led to the enhancement of bacterial resistance and traditional antibacterial agents are losing their effect. Therefore, fabricating novel and efficient antibacterial hydrogels with enhanced photodynamic antimicrobial activity, good biocompatibility, biodegradability and injectability are highly desirable for clinical application. Herein, a fluorescent and sunlight-triggered synergetic antibacterial thermosensitive hydrogel (red fluorescent hydroxypropyl chitin, redFHPCH) is constructed based on a new water-soluble AIEgen (aggregation-induced emission fluorogen) covalently introduced in hydroxypropyl chitin for non-invasive visualization and wound healing. The thermosensitive redFHPCH solution showing good injectability with fluidity at low temperature was completely transformed into hydrogel under body temperature. The in vitro and in vivo visualization and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation of the redFHPCH hydrogel are demonstrated clearly because of its excellent AIE fluorescence imaging quality in the red/near-infrared region and superefficient ROS production by sunlight. Moreover, the redFHPCH hydrogel with positively charged quaternary ammonium groups displays a strong synergistic antibacterial effect for healing of infected wound under sunlight irradiation. We believe that this novel strategy can open a new door to explore diversified and multifunctional hydrogels for clinical application. [Display omitted]