Poly(thioctic acid)\nHydrogels Integrated with Self-Healing,\nBioadhesion, Antioxidation, and Antibiosis for Infected Wound Treatment

Bacterial infections pose significant challenges in wound\nhealing\nand are a serious threat to human health. Hydrogels have emerged as\nan ideal wound dressing due to their three-dimensional network, which\nfacilitates exudate absorption and maintains a moist environment conducive\nto healing. Herein, we developed integrated hydrogels composed of\npoly(thioctic acid) (PTA), polydopamine (PDA), and curcumin (Cur).\nThe formation of covalent and hydrogen bonds among PTA, PDA, and Cur\nendowed the hydrogels with excellent self-healing and bioadhesion\nproperties. These hydrogels were utilized as dressings for healing Staphylococcus aureus-infected wounds. The PDA–PTA–Cur\n16 hydrogel showed the best overall performance in stability, bioadhesion,\nantioxidant activity, and antibacterial effectiveness. The in vivo\nresults revealed that the PDA–PTA–Cur 16 hydrogel accelerated\ninfected wound healing by inhibiting bacterial growth, alleviating\ninflammation, promoting collagen deposition, and inducing angiogenesis.\nThis multifunctional hydrogel not only enhances wound healing but\nalso presents a promising strategy for combating bacterial infections\nin clinical settings.