Dual-Functional Photonic Crystal Hydrogel: Drug Release Monitoring and Immunomodulation for Chronic Infected Wounds.

Abstract

Chronic bacterial-infected wounds are difficult to treat due to persistent inflammation, biofilm formation, and antibiotic resistance. Conventional therapeutic approaches, such as systemic or topical antibiotics, are limited by the inability to dynamically monitor drug release at the wound site. To address this issue, we have designed a dual-functional photonic crystal hydrogel (PP/DG@MOF) that not only promotes wound healing by modulating local immune responses and facilitating tissue regeneration but also enables real-time, noninvasive monitoring of drug release and wound healing progress. The PP/DG@MOF hydrogel is embedded with a metal-organic framework possessing both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties (DG@MOF), combined with photonic crystals (PAM-PCH) for visual monitoring of drug release. The DG@MOF hydrogel responds to collagenase activity at the wound site, releasing a mixture composed of ZIF-8 encapsulating the Salvianolic acid B and antimicrobial quaternary ammonium groups, effectively combating bacterial infection at the wound site. As the drug-loaded hydrogel degrades, the embedded photonic crystal layer undergoes tunable structural color changes, providing real-time, noninvasive feedback on drug release and wound healing. This strategy offers a novel approach for the management of chronic infected wounds and holds significant promise for translation into clinical practice as a next-generation wound care material.