Reactive oxygen species-generating hydrogel platform for enhanced antibacterial therapy

Abstract Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) have attracted much attention as promising antibacterial agents due to their ability generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that effectively eliminate bacteria. However, when they are delivered inside the body, this distinct characteristic of ROS is restricted limited penetration depth external light, which required for photocatalysis particles. To produce without any light source particles implanted, we introduced catechol-ZnO complexes a hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel platform, can self-generate sufficient in bacteria-infected tissue. Catechol-ZnO enhanced generation via electron transfer from formation and o -semiquinone, structure was created by coordinate bonds between functionalized catechol groups HA ZnO simultaneously. This demonstrated different behaviors terms physical properties compared chemically cross-linked hydrogels containing ZnO. showed higher swelling ratio, enzymatic degradation resistance, tissue adhesive strength. Enhanced confirmed using paramagnetic resonance (EPR), H 2 O concentration, glutathione depletion, intracellular detection. The improved performance production also through vitro bacterial testing against two strains, E. coli S. aureus . Furthermore, an vivo experiment infected mouse model analyze colony formation, histologic analysis, hematological inflammatory markers revealed effective effects complexes. Overall, potential therapy capability enhance eradicate