Quarternized chitosan/quercetin/polyacrylamide semi-interpenetrating network hydrogel with recoverability, toughness and antibacterial properties for wound healing

Antibiotic abuse has posed enormous burdens on patients and healthcare systems. Hence, the design and development of non-antibiotic wound dressings to meet clinical demand are urgently desired. However, there remains one of the impediments to hydrogel wound dressings that integrated with good recoverability, toughness, and excellent antibacterial properties. Herein, a series of semi-interpenetrating network (semi-IPN) hydrogels with exceptional mechanical performance and remarkable antibacterial activity based on quaternized chitosan (QCS) and polyacrylamide (PAM) were developed using a one-pot method. Additionally, the antibacterial activity of semi-IPN hydrogel against S. aureus and E. coli was enhanced by integrating it with quercetin (QT). The semi-IPN hydrogels also exhibited high recoverability and toughness, outstanding liquid absorbability (the swelling ratio reached 565 +/- 12 %), and a satisfying water vapor transmission rate. Moreover, the semi-IPN hydrogels presented ideal hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility. These high-elastic hydrogels are promising candidates for potential applications in wound dressing, tissue repair, chronic wound care, as well as other biomedical fields.

Automated summary

Antibiotic abuse has become a burden on patients and healthcare systems, leading to a need for non-antibiotic wound dressings. However, hydrogel wound dressings with good recoverability, toughness, and excellent antibacterial properties still face obstacles. In this study, a series of semi-interpenetrating network (semi-IPN) hydrogels were developed using quaternized chitosan (QCS) and polyacrylamide (PAM) through a one-pot method, which showed exceptional mechanical performance and remarkable antibacterial activity. The integration of quercetin (QT) further enhanced the antibacterial properties against S. aureus and E. coli. These high-elastic hydrogels have potential applications in wound dressing, tissue repair, chronic wound care, and other biomedical fields.