Injectable hydrogel loaded with copper oxide – curcumin nanosonosensitizer for enhanced antibacterial sonodynamic effect

Bacterial infections present a significant challenge in wound healing by increasing the risk of complications and delaying the overall healing process. To address this issue an injectable hydrogel combined with sonodynamic therapy was utilized to improve the antimicrobial resistance. In this study, sodium alginate and gelatin matrix-based injectable hydrogel were prepared and incorporated with copper-oxide/curcumin nanoparticles. The morphology and presence of functional groups were examined using SEM and FTIR, which revealed the porous network arrangement of the hydrogel. These hydrogels exhibit excellent, injectability and rapid gelation which was confirmed using inverting and slanting tests. Further, the swelling and degradation profile was analyzed, and was found that CuO-Cur NPs loaded hydrogel exhibited a slower profile compared to SA/GEL hydrogel due to a denser crosslinking network. The incorporation of CuO-Cur NPs with the hydrogel matrix has improved its stability and generated reactive oxygen species upon exposure to ultrasound. This sonodynamic effect of CuO-Cur NPs as a sonosensitizer was analyzed using DPBF. In addition, the hydrogel was tested for antibacterial activity against the Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strain using the spread plate method, where it showed great potential in preventing bacterial infections. Compared to standard or conventional treatments, the CuO-Cur NP-loaded injectable hydrogel stands out as a promising option for wound management as it combines both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.