Journal of Zhejiang University

Bio-Design and Manufacturing 2026 Vol.9 No.3 P.539 - 562

A clinically guided photocurable hydrogel platform for antimicrobial peptide substitution in personalized wound infection therapy

Author(s): Xiaolong Lin,Tao Fu,Yuqing Lei,Jiajia Xu,Haihua Zhu,Fudong Zhu
Affiliation(s): 1. Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical, Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310000, China more
Corresponding email(s): zhuhh403@zju.edu.cn, zhuhh403@zju.edu.cn
Key Words: Antimicrobial peptide, Hydrogel, Wound healing, Anti-inflammatory

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Xiaolong Lin. A clinically guided photocurable hydrogel platform for antimicrobial peptide substitution in personalized wound infection therapy[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University Science D, 2026, 9(3): 539 - 562.

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publisher="Zhejiang University Press & Springer",
doi="10.1631/bdm.2500380"
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Abstract
Chinese Summary
Academic Network
Reviewer Comment

Abstract: The healing of infected skin wounds remains a major clinical challenge due to persistent bacterial contamination and prolonged inflammation. In this study, we report the development of a multifunctional, light-curable sodium alginate-based hydrogel by grafting antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) onto oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) via Schiff base reactions and incorporating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The dual-network hydrogel, formed by blending AMP@OSA with methacrylated alginate (AlgMA) and subsequent ultraviolet (UV) curing, exhibited a pH-responsive release behavior targeting the acidic microenvironment of infected wounds. In vitro studies demonstrated strong antibacterial activity againstStaphylococcus aureusandEscherichia coli, significant inhibition of biofilm formation, and excellent biocompatibility, evidenced by minimal cytotoxicity and hemolysis. Treatment of a rat dorsal full-thickness infected wound model with the AMP-AgNPs@OSA hydrogel markedly accelerated wound closure, enhanced re-epithelialization, and promoted collagen deposition. Mechanistically, the hydrogel modulated the immune microenvironment by inducing macrophage polarization toward the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, thereby mitigating inflammatory responses and supporting tissue regeneration. These findings establish AMP-AgNPs@OSA hydrogel as a multifunctional dressing capable of simultaneously controlling infection and promoting wound repair, with strong potential for advanced clinical use in the management of infected skin defects. Moreover, the antimicrobial peptide component can be flexibly replaced with clinically appropriate antibiotics based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing, allowing personalized infection control and expanding the hydrogel’s translational relevance across diverse pathogens.The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

A clinically guided photocurable hydrogel platform for antimicrobial peptide substitution in personalized wound infection therapy

感染性皮肤创面因伴随持续的细菌感染及炎症反应迁延难愈, 仍是临床面临的一项棘手难题。本研究通过席夫碱反应将抗菌肽 (AMPs) 接枝到氧化海藻酸钠 (OSA) 并负载银纳米颗粒 (AgNPs), 构建了一种多功能光固化海藻酸钠基水凝胶体系。该体系将 AMP@OSA 与甲基丙烯酸海藻酸钠 (AlgMA) 混合后经紫外光固化形成网络水凝胶, 具有针对感染创面酸性微环境的 pH 响应性释放特性。体外实验证实, 该水凝胶对金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌具有显著抗菌活性, 能有效抑制生物膜形成, 且细胞毒性和溶血率极低, 生物相容性良好。在大鼠背部全层感染创面模型中, 应用 AMP-AgNPs@OSA 水凝胶显著加速了创面愈合, 增强了上皮再生促进了胶原沉积。机制研究表明, 该水凝胶通过诱导巨噬细胞向抗炎 M2 型极化来调控免疫微环境, 从而减轻炎症反应并促进组织再生。综上所述, AMP-AgNPs@OSA 水凝胶作为一种兼具抗感染与促修复功能的多功能敷料, 在治疗感染性皮肤缺损方面具有广阔的临床应用潜力。此外, 该凝胶平台可依据药敏试验结果将抗菌肽灵活替换为临床适宜的抗生素, 为实现个性化抗感染治疗及应对不同病原体感染提供了具有临床转化价值的新策略。
Antimicrobial peptide; Hydrogel; Wound healing; Anti-inflammatory