Rapidly in situ forming antibiotic-free injectable hydrogel wound dressing for eradicating drug-resistant bacterial infections in human skin organoids

The rising prevalence of global antibiotic resistance evokes the urgent requirement to explore the alternative antimicrobial candidates. It is of great significance to overcome these serious threats of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections and difficult-to-heal cutaneous wounds to human health. Herein, we proposed a rapidly in situ forming innovative antibiotic-free hydrogel dressing with excellent biocompatibility, easy injectability, strong tissue adhesion and superior antibacterial activity against drug-resistant bacteria. An octa-armed poly(ethylene glycol) amine (Octa-PEG-NH₂) was quickly crosslinked with a green industrial microbicide tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium chloride (THPC) to form an antibacterial hydrogel (OPTH) by simple mixing without any other initiators or crosslinkers. A significant broad-spectrum antibacterial efficacy was demonstrated against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Significantly, benefiting from its flexible injectability and reliable tissue adhesion, the excellent antibacterial performances were further evidenced by employing human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived skin organoids in a 3D culture system and rat animal wound models in vivo with MRSA infection, thus allowing for reepithelization promotion and wound healing. Collectively, the findings not only propose a facile gelatinization strategy for readily accessible antibiotic-free hydrogel dressings for effective MRSA therapy but also hold great clinical translation potential in obliterating multi-pathogenic bacteria and accelerating wound healing.