Photothermal-manipulatable shape memory polyacrylamide/gelatin Janus hydrogel with drug carrier array for invasive wound closure and responsive drug release.

Traditional wound closure methods often present several issues, including additional puncture wounds, adverse effects from anesthesia, and noticeable scarring. Inspired by embryonic wound healing, a Janus hydrogel (PG/Au-Asp@PCM) is designed to manipulate non-invasive wound closure by photothermal-responsive self-contraction of PG/Au-Asp@PCM, which is attributed to the shape memory behavior of PG/Au-Asp@PCM under near-infrared (NIR). Wherein, gelatin acts as a thermally reversible "switch" and polyacrylamide creates stable and cross-linked "net-points". The elongated PG/Au-Asp@PCM can be temporarily fixed at 4 °C, and subsequently self-contracts upon NIR irradiation, generating a recovery force of 10 kPa, adequate for the closure of wound spontaneously. The Janus hydrogel also incorporates a drug carrier loaded with phase change material (PCM) and aspirin. The PCM absorbs heat during its phase transition above 42 °C, offering the photothermal-responsive release of aspirin on-demand; additionally, it also reduces the risk of skin burn during NIR exposure. Animal studies confirm the effectiveness of PG/Au-Asp@PCM in wound closure. Moreover, wounds treated with PG/Au-Asp@PCM exhibit reduced inflammation, increased thickness of epidermal and dermal layers, and a smoother appearance without scarring. These findings reinforce the feasibility of the photothermal strategy utilizing PG/Au-Asp@PCM for non-invasive wound closure, resulting in enhanced cosmetic appearance and improved wound healing outcomes.