Black phosphorus-enhanced injectable hydrogel for infected soft tissue healing

• Published in: APL bioengineering Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 016103 - 016103-12
• Main Authors: Zhao, Yaochao, Chen, Zhijie, Shao, Wenjun, Yang, Shu, Cui, Wenguo, Cai, Zhengwei, Cheng, Liang, Lin, Ruixin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States AIP Publishing LLC 01.03.2023
• ISSN: 2473-2877; 2473-2877
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0121241

The misuse of antibiotics makes clinical treatment of soft tissue infection a huge challenge in prosthesis replacement. In this study, a black phosphorus (BP)-enhanced antibacterial injectable hydrogel (HAABP) was developed by the dynamic coordinative cross-linking among thiolated hyaluronic acid, silver ion (Ag+), and BP. HAABP has been proven to possess typical porous structures, excellent injectability, and rapid self-healing properties. In addition, the shear modulus was positive correlative to the concentration of BP. In vitro, HAABP maintained good cytocompatibility and showed a highly efficient synergistic inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus through the irradiation of near infrared light and the release of Ag+. In vivo, HAABP not only inhibited the persistent infection but also accelerated the deposition of collagen fibers and angiogenesis by down-regulating the inflammatory factor TNF-α in the infectious wound defect, thereby repairing the natural barrier of tissue. This study developed a BP-enhanced injectable hydrogel that provided a simple and efficient synergistic antibacterial strategy to treat soft tissue infections around prostheses.