Fabrication of silver phosphate@carbon dots-embedded hydrogels with photodynamic and cationic synergistic antibacterial activity

Wound infections are a major challenge in wound healing. Since the overuse of antibiotics, drug-resistant bacteria have emerged thus caused drug-resistant infections. Compared with overused antibiotics, hydrogel hold potential to be applied in wound healing since their high-water content and mechanical similar with extracellular matrix. A series of polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogel with various elastic moduli were developed, and the skin-mimic mechanical properties of Ag 3 PO 4 /PAAm composite hydrogel were investigated. The tunable elasticity PAAm hydrogel mixed with Ag 3 PO 4 and carbon dots (Ag 3 PO 4 @CDs) for anti-bacterial functions were fabricated. The presence of carbon dots has effectively reduced the photodegradation of Ag 3 PO 4 , improved the photocatalytic efficiency of Ag 3 PO 4 , and enhanced the antibacterial functions of the composite hydrogel. These hydrogels exhibit good antibacterial properties and featured with elastic modulus similarity to skin. This study provides a strategy for designing antibacterial composite hydrogel to promote wound healing.