A novel chitosan hydrogel nanocomposite, embedded with polydopamine-modified graphitic carbon nitride, for accelerating the healing process of infected wounds

The overuse of antibiotics to treat infected wounds leads to antibiotic resistance, highlighting the need for the development of non-antibiotic-dependent multifunctional biomaterials for wound healing. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of hydrogels containing a graphite-polydopamine (PDA) carbon nitride composite (g-C3N4), based on marine polysaccharides (chitosan; Cit), in a mouse model of infected wounds. The formulations prepared were Chitosan/PDA (Cit/PDA), Cit/PDA/g-C3N4 10 %, and Cit/PDA/g-C3N4 20 %. The physicochemical properties of these structures were analyzed, and other tests confirmed their successful synthesis. In vitro antibacterial and toxicity assays were conducted and somenstrated both the safety and antibacterial activity of the hydrogels. These hydrogels were then applied for the treatment of infected wounds and showed significant potential for increasing wound contraction, decreasing total bacterial count and pathological parameters, and modulating in the expression of key biomarkers (Nrf-2, CCL-2, EGF, KGF, and COL-1 A) compared to a commercial topical antibiotic. The results showed greater wound contraction, increased antibacterial activity, and higher expression of EGF, KGF, and COL-1 A in the treated groups, particularly in the Cit/PDA/g-C3N4 10 %-treated group. This hydrogel formulation showed comparable effectiveness to antibiotics in the treatment of infected wounds and also potential for clinical applications.