Antibacterial Hybrid Hydrogels

Macromol Biosci. 2021 Jan;21(1):e2000252. doi: 10.1002/mabi.202000252. Epub 2020 Sep 3.

Abstract

Bacterial infectious diseases and bacterial-infected environments have been threatening the health of human beings all over the world. In view of the increased bacteria resistance caused by overuse or improper use of antibiotics, antibacterial biomaterials are developed as the substitutes for antibiotics in some cases. Among them, antibacterial hydrogels are attracting more and more attention due to easy preparation process and diversity of structures by changing their chemical cross-linkers via covalent bonds or noncovalent physical interactions, which can endow them with various specific functions such as high toughness and stretchability, injectability, self-healing, tissue adhesiveness and rapid hemostasis, easy loading and controlled drug release, superior biocompatibility and antioxidation as well as good conductivity. In this review, the recent progress of antibacterial hydrogel including the fabrication methodologies, interior structures, performances, antibacterial mechanisms, and applications of various antibacterial hydrogels is summarized. According to the bacteria-killing modes of hydrogels, several representative hydrogels such as silver nanoparticles-based hydrogel, photoresponsive hydrogel including photothermal and photocatalytic, self-bacteria-killing hydrogel such as inherent antibacterial peptides and cationic polymers, and antibiotics-loading hydrogel are focused on. Furthermore, current challenges of antibacterial hydrogels are discussed and future perspectives in this field are also proposed.

Keywords: antibacterial; bacterial resistance; hydrogel; photoresponsive; wound healing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry
  • Biocompatible Materials / therapeutic use
  • Delayed-Action Preparations / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hydrogels / chemistry
  • Hydrogels / therapeutic use*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Silver / chemistry
  • Wound Healing / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Hydrogels
  • Silver