Hybrid flexible dressings with rapid gelation promote healing of difficult-to-treat infected wounds

• The novel hydrogel flexible dressing PAM-ME enables rapid gel formation at ambient temperatures. • PAM-ME has antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties, which are essential for the treatment of infected wounds. • PAM-ME also offers hemostatic properties, making it an ideal solution for complex wound healing challenges. Bacterial infection and heightened inflammation frequently hinder the healing process of infected wounds. Hydrogel dressings possessing antibacterial and immunomodulatory qualities hold significant promise in effectively addressing refractory wound management. Nonetheless, current immunomodulatory hydrogels typically necessitate intricate preparation procedures. In this study, hydrogel flexible dressings were efficiently produced in this research by leveraging the distinctive initiation mechanism involving the self-oxidative reaction of triethylboron and O 2 to liberate ethyl radicals. The fabrication process was notably expedited to just a few minutes while maintaining optimal functionality. Furthermore, innovative bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBG) enriched with magnesium (Mg) and enoxacin were integrated into the design. The integration of these elements provides the hydrogel flexible dressing (PAM-ME) with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory capabilities while preserving its integrity. The in vitro studies revealed that the PAM-ME hydrogel demonstrates favorable biocompatibility, remarkable antimicrobial effectiveness, and potent immunomodulatory characteristics. Furthermore, the PAM-ME hydrogel proved to be successful in enhancing the recovery of infected wounds, while also exhibiting hemostatic properties. This study created a hybrid hydrogel that safely and effectively speeds up the healing of infected wounds, offering a new solution to the complex challenges of wound healing.