Smart Hydrogel Heals Wounds by Sensing pH, Switching from Antibacterial to Regenerative

A research team from Fudan University, led by Professor Xiangchao Meng, has developed a groundbreaking hydrogel technology that represents a significant advancement in wound care. This smart material, constructed from an interpenetrating network of sodium alginate and carboxymethyl chitosan, can sense pH changes in the wound environment and dynamically switch its therapeutic function. Loaded with tannic acid as a natural antibacterial agent and zinc-doped bioactive glass for tissue regeneration, the hydrogel responds to the body's healing stages—releasing antibacterial molecules during infection when the environment is acidic, then gradually delivering regenerative ions as healing progresses and pH becomes more alkaline. This microenvironment-responsive mechanism achieves, for the first time, precise stage-specific control of infected wound treatment, moving beyond passive wound covering to active, intelligent assistance in the healing process.

In preclinical testing using rat models with infected wounds, the hydrogel demonstrated remarkable effectiveness, achieving over 90% wound closure in just 14 days while significantly outperforming standard treatments. Histological analysis revealed enhanced collagen deposition, reduced inflammation, and improved blood vessel formation in treated wounds. A particularly innovative feature is the material's selective activation—it remains inert in healthy tissue and activates only under pathological conditions, which reduces drug overuse and limits the need for frequent dressing changes. This makes the technology especially promising for treating complex wounds like diabetic foot ulcers or post-surgical infections, where conventional treatments often struggle. The research, published in Biomedical Technology with DOI 10.1016/j.bmt.2025.100120, represents what Professor Meng describes as "a step toward intelligent wound management" where materials "can listen to the body and respond accordingly."

The development was supported by multiple funding sources including the Youth Program of Minhang Hospital, Shanghai Minhang District Medical Specialty Construction Project, Natural science research projects of Minhang District, and Zhejiang Provincial Medicine and Health Technology Project. As the team explores clinical translation and broader applications, this technology could fundamentally redefine how injuries and diseases are treated. The research findings are accessible through the original source URL, and the work represents the kind of revolutionary innovation that organizations like Chuanlink Innovations seek to foster—where ideas move from inception to realization through transmission and connection. The team's approach to creating materials that understand and respond to biological signals marks a significant shift toward more personalized, adaptive medical treatments.