Antibacterial and bioadhesive characteristics of mussel-inspired hyaluronic acid hydrogels encapsulated with sea urchin-shaped copper-coated silicon dioxide nanoparticles

The urgent need to mitigate the deadly effects of infectious diseases underscores the significance of incorporating antibacterial properties into wound-healing treatments. Hydrogel systems have gained substantial attention as wound-dressing patches owing to their superior fluid absorption, versatility in chemical and physical properties, capacity for biomolecule entrapment, and excellent biocompatibility. Many research efforts have focused on embedding antibacterial agents into hydrogel networks to develop effective and reliable wound-dressing solutions. Therefore, this study aims to investigate antibacterial and bioadhesive hydrogels crafted by embedding sea urchin-shaped copper-coated silicon dioxide nanoparticles (Cu@SiO₂) into catechol-modified and photopolymerizable hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels. Inspired by marine mussels, whose foot proteins enable strong adhesion to various surfaces, we chemically modified materials with catechol groups to introduce bioadhesive properties. This modification was characterized using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR), and Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD) spectroscopy. The bioadhesive strength of the modified surfaces was validated through lap-shear testing. Incorporating Cu@SiO₂ into the catechol-modified HA-based hydrogel enhanced their antibacterial activity and mechanical integrity. The bactericidal efficacy of the hydrogel was tested against three distinct bacterial strains, while its biocompatibility was evaluated using mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). These outstanding properties position the Cu@SiO₂-hydrogel as a strong candidate for use in wound-dressing patches and other biomedical applications.