An injectable nanocomposite hydrogel prevents postoperative tumor recurrence and wound infection via synergistic photothermal-chemo-therapy.

Hypothesis: Tumor recurrence, bacterial infection, and wound healing remain significant clinical challenges after skin-tumor resection. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that a multifunctional nanocomposite platform containing nanoparticles (NPs) with the photothermal agent IR820 and bioactive drug curcumin (Cur) would be able to prevent tumor recurrence, limit bacterial wound infections, and promote wound healing.

Experiments: In this study, we developed a near-infrared light-activated nanocomposite hydrogel system (Hydrogel/Cur@IR820) by incorporating self-assembled NPs (Cur@IR820) in solutions containing Pluronic F127 modified with aldehyde groups (F127-CHO) and polyethyleneimine-grafted F127 (F127-PEI).

Findings: The Hydrogel/Cur@IR820 platform exhibited inherent multifunctional properties, including superior injectability, self-healing behavior, photothermal effects, and free radical scavenging ability. The Cur@IR820 NPs led to photonic hyperthermia and near-infrared (NIR)-triggered Cur release, which drove synergistic therapeutic effects against bacteria and tumor cells. Furthermore, the Hydrogel/Cur@IR820 system promoted wound repair and tissue regeneration by reducing inflammation through the antioxidant properties of Cur. Overall, the results of this study have clinical implications for inhibiting tumor growth, treating bacterial infections, and accelerating tissue regeneration.