Antibacterial Polymer Hydrogel Based on Cold Plasma-Activated Water for Infected Wound Regeneration

Abstract

Developing novel wound dressings with both high-efficiency antibacterial and pro-healing properties is of great significance for promoting the healing of bacterially infected wounds. In this study, a novel plasma-activated hydrogel (PAH) wound dressing was developed by substituting traditional deionized water with plasma-activated water (PAW) as the solvent during the free-radical copolymerization of acrylamide (AM) and N-acryloyl phenylalanine (APhe). The reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (RONS) enriched in PAW endowed the hydrogel with excellent antibacterial properties. Meanwhile, the unique three-dimensional network structure and abundant functional groups of the hydrogel provided an ideal matrix for the stable loading of RONS. The hydrogel exhibited mechanical properties similar to those of skin tissue (Young’s modulus: 15.2 kPa, breaking strength: 198 kPa, elongation at break: 1550%), appropriate tissue adhesion (adhesive strength: 6.96 kPa), and favorable biocompatibility. It also demonstrated high-efficiency inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) and Escherichia coli(E. coli), meeting the critical requirements for infected wound dressings. Furthermore, the hydrogel exhibited significant therapeutic effects on S. aureus-infected skin wounds in a murine model.