Microfluidic ultrasmall photothermal AIE nanoparticles for accelerated diabetic wound

Therapeutic strategies are critical for the effective management of diabetic wounds, which are often complicated by persistent infections and slow healing. Conventional wound dressings offer limited therapeutic efficacy and adaptability across diverse clinical scenarios. Here, we report the development of near-infrared II (NIR-II) photothermal nanoparticles based on aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) to address these challenges. Benefiting from unrestricted intramolecular motion in the aggregated state, AIEgens demonstrate high photothermal conversion efficiency under 808 nm irradiation. Integration with a microfluidic synthesis platform enables precise control over nanoparticle size, resulting in ultrasmall AIE nanoparticles (~ 20 nm) with excellent biocompatibility and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Upon in situ deposition onto infected wounds, these AIE nanoparticles function as efficient photothermal agents, providing adaptable and comfortable coverage while markedly accelerating diabetic wound healing. This work not only introduces a versatile photothermal platform for infection-responsive therapy but also offers a promising strategy for the development of AIE-based healthcare.