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A temperature-responsive hydrogel dressing enables on-demand drug release and visual wound monitoring.

Created on 01 Sep 2026

Authors

Guolong Liu, Tao Zhang, Xiaohua Zhang, Pedram Fatehi, Dehai Yu, Yu Liu, Weikun Jiang

Published in

Journal of materials chemistry. B. Sep 01, 2026. Epub Sep 01, 2026.

Abstract

Temperature-responsive hydrogel dressings (T-r HGDS) that couple drug release to wound-state cues are promising for fast wound management, but integrating a clinically relevant thermal trigger, controlled delivery and direct visual feedback remains challenging. Here, we report a novel poly(ionic liquid) (PIL)-assisted T-r HGDS constructed with on-demand drug release capabilities, which responds to temperature changes. Reversible ionic interactions program the dressing to respond at approximately 37 °C, matching inflammation-associated local hyperthermia. Below this threshold, strengthened ionic associations compact the network, reduce hydrophilicity and suppress drug diffusion; above it, weakened interactions increase hydration, enlarge pores and accelerate release. Using norfloxacin as a model antibiotic, T-r HGDS released 11.02 µg mL-1 drug at 36 °C over 240 min (36.71% of loading), whereas release increased to 21.04 µg mL-1 at 40 °C (70.15% of loading). Thermally triggered release was accompanied by an opaque-to-transparent transition, with transmittance rising from 45.61% at 25 °C to 85.89% at 37 °C and 97.34% at 45 °C. The dressing also showed robust mechanical performance, cytocompatibility, antibacterial activity, antioxidant capacity and reloading recyclability. In mice, T-r HGDS-treated wounds achieved over 98.0% closure after 14 days, with enhanced epithelial regeneration, granulation formation and collagen deposition. This work offers inflammation-responsive therapy with visual monitoring for intelligent, on-demand wound care.

PMID:
42676129
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 01 Sep 2026.

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