Authors
Ji Hye Choi, Daun Jeong, Jung Soo Kim, Inhwan Ro, Hye Ra Jung, Jaehee Jang, Minje Kim, Jin Hyuck Lee, ChangMin Song, Jonghoon Choi, Kyoung Min Lee, Chang-Soo Lee, Jangsun Hwang, Woo Young Jang
Published in
Advanced healthcare materials. Pages e71686. Sep 06, 2026. Epub Sep 06, 2026.
Abstract
With the growth of the older adult population and the increasing incidence of traumatic injuries, the use of orthopedic devices has risen significantly. However, in addition to material-related limitations, one of the most serious challenges associated with these devices is the risk of infection. To address this issue, an innovative hydrogel is presented to prevent infection at the source during orthopedic surgery. This hydrogel combines polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), a positively charged agent with proven broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, with a thermosensitive polymer. The resulting formulation provides suitable viscosity for application or dip-coating onto orthopedic devices, thereby forming a stable physical and chemical barrier. The new hydrogel exhibits temperature-responsive viscosity, which enhances both adherence and controlled release at body temperature. Additionally, the hydrogel demonstrates antibacterial effectiveness against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, along with low cytotoxicity, minimal immune response, and excellent anti-biofouling properties. These features make the developed hydrogel well suited for orthopedic surgical procedures and support its potential as a complementary approach to reducing the risk of postoperative infections.
PMID:
42701917
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 07 Sep 2026.
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