Chitosan-based bifunctional composite aerogel combining absorption and phototherapy for bacteria elimination.

The bacterial infection is one of the most common but critical problems in the wound healing process due to the general antibiotic resistance of bacteria. Hence it is increasingly necessary and urgent to develop an advanced and efficient sterilization strategy. Herein, a chitosan-based aerogel embedded amino-functionalized molybdenum disulfide nanosheets (abbreviated to CS/NMNSs) was successfully constructed through amino modification and physical assembly. Scanning electron microscopy characterizations and swelling experiments indicated that freeze-dried chitosan aerogel is provided with extremely regular sponge-like structure, high porosity, and favorable swelling property. The CS aerogel can be used as an ideal bacterial adsorption agent ascribed to its inherent positive charge. The result of antibacterial studies showed that the CS/NMNSs exhibited efficient bacterial elimination capacity via capture ability of chitosan aerogel and near infrared induced photothermal sterilization. Therefore, the CS/NMNSs have great potential in developing as a photothermal antibacterial agent in future application.