Journal of Inorganic Materials ›› 2026, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (2): 234-244.DOI: 10.15541/jim20250180

• RESEARCH ARTICLE • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Ti3C2Tx Piezoelectric Composite Hydrogels for Bacterial-infected Skin Wound Healing

NIE Xiaoshuang1,2(), LI Dandan1, WANG Fang1,2, OUYANG Liping3, LI Heng1(), QIU Jiajun1()   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
    2. Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    3. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Flexible Medical Robotics, Tongren Hospital, Institute of Medical Robotics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200336, China
  • Received:2025-04-27 Revised:2025-05-19 Published:2025-06-05 Online:2025-06-05
  • Contact: LI Heng, associate professor. E-mail: liheng@mail.sic.ac.cn;
    QIU Jiajun, associate professor. E-mail: qiujiajun@mail.sic.ac.cn
  • About author:NIE Xiaoshuang (2000-), female, Master candidate. E-mail: niexiaoshuang0908@163.com
  • Supported by:
    National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFC2403000);Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality(24CL2900700);Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS(2023263);Hengdian Group Holding Co., Ltd.;Medical Key Subject of Xuhui District(SHXHZDXK202302)

Abstract:

Effective control of bacterial infection, alongside the simultaneous promotion of angiogenesis, represents a significant challenge for accelerating healing of infected wounds. Development of a multifunctional hydrogel wound dressing with both antibacterial and angiogenesis-promoting functions is of great research value. In this study, Ti3C2Al was used as the precursor, and Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets were prepared by selective chemical etching. These nanosheets were then integrated into a dynamic crosslinking network of injectable poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/cationic guar gum (CGG) hydrogel to construct a PVA/CGG/MXene (PCM) composite hydrogel with ultrasound response properties. Experimental results showed that the quaternary ammonium cationic group in the CGG molecular chain significantly enhanced antibacterial performance of the PCM hydrogel through electrostatic effect, whose antibacterial rates against S. aureus and E. coli reached 97.34% and 95.40%, respectively. The MXene nanosheets endowed the PCM hydrogel with stable electrical conductivity and piezoelectric properties. Under low-frequency ultrasound stimulation, the PCM hydrogel could generate an electrical signal, which in turn promoted cell proliferation, migration and vascular regeneration. Rat whole-layer skin infection wound model confirmed that PCM hydrogel significantly accelerated the wound healing process by increasing antibacterial, promoting angiogenesis and collagen deposition, even almost completely healing within 10 d. This study presents a smart hydrogel dressing that integrates ultrasound-responsive electrical stimulation, antibacterial and angiogenesis-promoting, offering an innovative new therapeutic strategy for repairing infected wounds.

Key words: piezoelectricity, Ti3C2Tx, antibacterial, hydrogel, wound healing

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