A Multifunctional MXene@CeO2‐Enhanced Hydrogel Dressing for Synergistic Photothermal Antibacterial and Antioxidative Therapy in Wound Healing

Abstract Chronic wounds infected with drug‐resistant bacteria present a formidable clinical challenge, exacerbated by antibiotic overuse that severely compromises healing. Herein, a multifunctional therapeutic hydrogel wound dressing is developed to address these challenges. This advanced nanocomposite hydrogel incorporates cerium dioxide‐doped MXene nanosheets (MXene@CeO 2 ) within a glycidyl methacrylate‐modified gelatin (GMA‐Gelatin) matrix and crosslinked into a hydrogel under UV irradiation (GMAG‐GEL), forming a near‐infrared (NIR)‐responsive material (MXene@CeO 2 /GMAG‐GEL). This incorporation enhances the mechanical strength of the hydrogel and creates a protective microenvironment for wound repair. In the acidic environment of bacterial infections, MXene@CeO 2 /GMAG‐GEL facilitates the electrostatic capture of bacteria. Synergizing with its photothermal capability, it exhibits exceptional antibacterial activity, effectively killing drug‐resistant bacteria and disrupting bacterial biofilms. After eradicating the infection, MXene@CeO 2 /GMAG‐GEL further alleviates oxidative stress, promotes cell migration and angiogenesis, and induces macrophage polarization toward an anti‐inflammatory phenotype. In vivo studies confirmed MXene@CeO 2 /GMAG‐GEL significantly accelerates wound closure and tissue regeneration. This work overcomes the key challenges of antibiotic resistance, persistent inflammation, and impaired tissue regeneration, presents a comprehensive therapeutic strategy for drug‐resistant bacterial wound infections through a single multifunctional platform.