Multifunctional surface-engineered MoS₂@DAS hydrogel for comprehensive management of infected wounds

Addressing the clinical challenge of infected wound healing — where bacterial colonization and excessive inflammation impede the healing process, and conventional therapies struggle to simultaneously achieve antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and tissue regeneration effects — this study designed and synthesized a novel bioinspired nanoenzyme composite hydrogel, MoS₂@DAS, constructed around molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanosheets. The hydrogel was fabricated by copolymerizing liquid-phase exfoliated MoS₂ nanosheets with dopamine methacrylamide (DMA), acrylamide (AM), and sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA). This design not only resolves the aggregation issue of MoS₂ in aqueous solution but also enhances its dispersion stability and biocompatibility. Furthermore, it incorporates two core functions tailored for the treatment of infected wounds: first, excellent near-infrared (NIR) photothermal conversion efficiency, which enables precise elevation of the local wound temperature under NIR irradiation, creating a conducive microenvironment for subsequent sterilization and tissue repair; second, remarkable enzyme-mimetic activity, which catalyzes the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under light conditions. These ROS can directly act on bacteria and modulate the inflammatory response, thereby helping to resolve both wound infection and inflammation. In vitro experiments confirmed the hydrogel's highly efficient synergistic antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus , attributed to the combined induction of bacterial clearance through photothermal and enzyme-mimetic activities. In a mouse model of infected wounds, the hydrogel demonstrated outstanding performance in eliminating bacterial infection, suppressing inflammation, promoting collagen deposition, and ultimately accelerating wound closure. This study provides experimental evidence supporting the translational potential of MoS₂-based nanomaterials in biomedicine, while confirming that the MoS₂@DAS hydrogel serves as a versatile platform with promising application prospects in innovative treatments for infected wounds, offering new insights for clinical therapeutic strategies. Schematic representation for the synthesis of MoS 2 @DAS hydrogel as a wound dressing and the mechanism of NIR photothermal enhanced cascaded POD-like activity for antibacterial anti-infective treatment. • Novel surface engineering : overcomes MoS₂ aggregation via dopamine methacrylamide/sulfobetaine methacrylate copolymerization, enhancing dispersibility and stability. • Dual-functional synergy : combines NIR photothermal therapy (ΔT = 33 °C) and peroxidase-like activity for potent ROS-mediated antibacterial action. • Rapid hemostasis : (blood loss: 3.04 ± 0.59 mg) and anti-inflammatory effects accelerate infected wound healing in S. aureus models. • Biomacompatible hydrogel : Inhibits angiogenesis, promotes collagen deposition and re-epithelialisation, with negligible cytotoxicity in vitro/in vivo. • Multifunctional platform : integrates infection clearance, inflammation suppression, and tissue regeneration for clinical wound management.