A bioactive hydrogel with synergistic Photothermal-photodynamic effects for efficient antibacterial therapy and infected wound repair.

The rise of bacterial drug resistance poses a major challenge in treating infected wounds, highlighting the urgency for developing advanced antibacterial materials. Here, we developed a gelatin-agar hydrogel embedded with AgNPs/CDs nanocomposites, which exhibited efficient photothermal conversion and ROS generation for bacterial inhibition. The nanocomposites were synthesized using carbon dots (CDs) as electron donors to reduce AgNO₃, enhancing bacterial surface interactions and inducing membrane damage. Through combined photothermal and photodynamic effects, the composite achieved synergistic antibacterial activity. In wound models, AgNPs/CDs@Gel significantly downregulated inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-1β), promoting the transition from inflammation to proliferation. Additionally, the composite facilitated angiogenesis and collagen deposition, supporting neoepithelial tissue regeneration and accelerating wound healing. These findings reveal AgNPs/CDs@Gel as a next-generation therapeutic platform that integrates synergistic photothermal/photodynamic sterilization with microenvironmental modulation, offering a creative strategy for combating infected wounds and enhancing regenerative outcomes.