In Vitro Assessment\nof Gallium Nanoalloy Hydrogels\nfor Antimicrobial and Wound Healing Applications

Chronic and recurring wounds pose a significant challenge\nin modern\nhealthcare, leading to substantial morbidity. These wounds allow pathogens\nto colonize, potentially resulting in local and systemic infections.\nCurrent interventions need to be revised and become increasingly less\nreliable due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. In the present\nstudy, we aim to address these issues by fabricating hydrogels impregnated\nwith gallium-based nanoalloys for their antimicrobial activity. Gallium\nliquid metal nanoparticles (approximately 100 nm in diameter) were\nalloyed in different combinations with bismuth and silver ions through\na galvanic replacement reaction. These multimetallic hydrogels showed\nfavorable antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and the Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as observed with fluorescence\nmicroscopy and inhibition assays. The multimetallic hydrogels showed\nno toxicity against murine macrophages or human dermal fibroblasts\nand enhanced in vitro wound healing. The development of these innovative\ngallium-based hydrogels represents a promising strategy to combat\nchronic wounds and their associated complications, offering an effective\nalternative to current antimicrobial treatments amidst rising antibiotic\nresistance.