Multifunctional Waterproof Hydrogels Based on Copper Sulfide Nanoparticles for Burn Wound Healing

Burn wounds care and healing are very difficult in clinic. Herein, a multifunctional waterproof hydrogel was fabricated with photothermal antimicrobial and NO anti-inflammatory properties. In the as-prepared hydrogel, polyethyleneimine (PEI) and thioctic acid (TA) were cross-linked by electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding while the aggregation of TA could be favor to the formation of hydrophobic caves. Benefit from the caves, CuS and BNN6 (N, N′-dibutyl-N, N′-dinitroso-1,4-phenylenediamine) could be incorporated in the PEI/TA-based hydrogel while the air permeability of the hydrogel could also be increased. Interestingly, the mild increased temperature from the photothermal conversion of CuS not only endowed the as-prepared hydrogel with photothermal antimicrobial ability but also promoted the release of NO from BNN6. The as-prepared PEI/TA/CuS/BNN6 hydrogel with good biocompatibility, self-healing ability and water resistance was suitable for promoting burn wounds healing. It provides a new platform for designing novel wound dressing for burn wounds.