Smart DEA–QCGM–CNT hydrogels with temperature- and NIR-responsive behavior achieved by the synergy between CNT and QCGM for wound dressing

Temperature-sensitive hydrogels are always hotspot and have shown great potential in the field of biomedicine. Herein, we report N,N-diethylacrylamide (DEA) temperature-sensitive nanocomposite hydrogels with improved mechanical properties composed of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and glycidyl methacrylate functionalized quaternized chitosan (QCGM), followed by deciphering the synergy between CNT and QCGM for the influence on the properties of the hydrogels. The prepared hydrogels not only present a temperature-stimulus response but also feature in NIR-stimulus response performance due to the addition of CNT. In particular, the DQ(0.5)C(1) hydrogel exhibits the optimal performance, including high mechanical strength and thermal behavior, and was subjected to examine the photothermal conversion ability, as well as loading the model drug ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CIP) to investigate the drug release and antibacterial ability under different conditions. Moreover, the biocompatibility experiments and the in vivo full-thickness skin defect model results signify that the hydrogels have excellent biocompatibility and also can promote wound closure with accelerated wound contraction and improve the wound-healing process. All in all, the prepared temperature-sensitive nanocomposite hydrogels with improved mechanical properties, high biological safety, and accelerated wound healing have considerable practicability in the fields of drug delivery and wound dressing.