Smearable CQD-entrapped hydrogel with sensitive pH response and photodynamic antibacterial properties for visual intelligent wound monitoring

Abstract

The treatment of chronic wounds remains a significant challenge in the clinical field, and optimizing the treatment plan through visual monitoring of wound healing is an effective way to solve such problem. Herein, we propose a feasible strategy to construct a smearable C–P-T/mCQDs hydrogel for real-time monitoring of wound infection and healing status, through the synergistic combination of modified carbon quantum dots (mCQD), cellulose nanofiber, tannic acid, and polyvinyl alcohol. The hydrogel can be readily applied on the skin and rapidly forms a gel dressing through high-density hydrogen bonding, demonstrating exceptional mechanical robustness (tensile elongation: 600 %) and autonomous self-healing capabilities. In particular, the carboxyl-rich mCQDs are more easily recognized by the sensitive pH-mediated polychromatic fluorescence response under ultraviolet excitation, exhibiting encouraging photodynamic therapy effect against bacterial infections. Under the irradiation of sunlight or near-infrared laser, the hydrogel achieves 99.99 % bactericidal efficacy against multiple types of bacteria (S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii) within 20 min through reactive oxygen species generation. Furthermore, C–P-T/mCQDs demonstrates excellent antioxidant activity, biocompatibility, hemostatic efficiency and pro-healing properties. Notably, the mCQD-integrated hydrogel enables real-time, visual monitoring of wound status through its pH-responsive properties, providing substantial translational potential for personalized chronic wound management.