Self-healing hydrogel based on poly (vinyl alcohol)-poly (lysine)-gum arabic accelerates diabetic wound healing under photothermal sterilization

Diabetic wounds are a significant clinical challenge. Developing effective antibacterial dressings is crucial for preventing wound ulcers caused by bacterial infections. In this study, a self-healing antibacterial hydrogel (polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)–polylysine–gum arabic, PLG hydrogels) with near-infrared photothermal response was prepared by linking PVA and a novel polysaccharide–amino acid compound (PG) through borate bonding combined with freeze–thaw cycling. Subsequently, the hydrogel was modified by incorporating inorganic nanoparticles (modified graphene oxide (GM)). The experimental results showed that the PLGM3 hydrogels (PLG@GM hydrogels, 3.0 wt%) could effectively kill bacteria and promote diabetic wound tissue healing under 808-nm near-infrared laser irradiation. Therefore, this hydrogel system provides a new idea for developing novel dressings for treating diabetic wounds.