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GQDs-ε-PL and GQDs-ε-PL-based self-healing hydrogel: Synthesis, characterization and in vitro chemo-photothermal combined antibacterial

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Abstract

Surface amino-rich GQDs-ε-PL is prepared by changing the addition amount of ε-PL. Then, GQDs-ε-PL@4-arm PEG-BA/QCS hydrogels (GQDs-ε-PL@Gel) are synthesized through dynamic imine bonds cross-linking. The sol can transform quickly to gel and the gelation time can be controlled by adjusting the specific gravity of the input raw materials to water. FT-IR and thermogravimetric analyses indicate the successful synthesis of GQDs-ε-PL and GQDs-ε-PL@Gel. The microstructure observation reveals that GQDs-ε-PL has a sheet-like structure with an average size of 65 nm, while GQDs-ε-PL@Gel has a porous network structure. Both GQDs-ε-PL and GQDs-ε-PL@Gel have good fluorescence stability, photothermal and cytocompatibility, and display better antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa through chemical and photothermal synergistic sterilization. More importantly, GQDs-ε-PL@Gel can repeatedly self-heal after being damaged, which is more beneficial to provide an effective wound closure environment for wounds and to be used as wound dressings.

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The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgments

This work is supported by Young and Middle-aged Backbone Personnel Training Project of Fujian Health and Family Planning Commission (2021GGA043) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (81901896).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Minjiang Teachers College, Fuzhou, 350109, China

    Jia Gao & Ying Zhang

  2. College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China

    Yuan Zhang, Wenjing Feng, Cui Cheng & Xiao Han

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  1. Jia Gao
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  2. Yuan Zhang
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  3. Wenjing Feng
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  4. Ying Zhang
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  5. Cui Cheng
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Correspondence to Cui Cheng or Xiao Han.

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Gao, J., Zhang, Y., Feng, W. et al. GQDs-ε-PL and GQDs-ε-PL-based self-healing hydrogel: Synthesis, characterization and in vitro chemo-photothermal combined antibacterial. Journal of Materials Research 38, 368–379 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43578-022-00816-7

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