# Photothermal–Immunomodulatory Hydrogel Reinforced by Ti3C2/ZnAl‐LDH Nanoplatform for Eradicating MRSA and Promoting Diabetic Wound Healing

## TL;DR

A new hydrogel mimics immune defenses to kill drug-resistant bacteria and help heal diabetic wounds.

## Contribution

A photothermal–immunomodulatory hydrogel reinforced by Ti3C2/ZnAl-LDH nanoplatform is developed to mimic and enhance NETs-like functions.

## Key findings

- The hydrogel effectively traps and kills MRSA through reactive oxygen species generation.
- It promotes wound healing by modulating macrophages toward a reparative M2 phenotype.
- The system shows promise for treating multidrug-resistant infections in diabetic wounds.

## Abstract

MRSA infections give rise to chronic cutaneous and advance into profound tissue invasions, including osteomyelitis and sepsis—conditions for which existing clinical interventions offer only limited efficacy. The utility of broad‐spectrum antibiotics has become increasingly compromised by escalating drug resistance, inadequate tissue targeting, and deleterious side effects. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have emerged as a compelling immunotherapeutic avenue for eradicating multidrug‐resistant pathogens. Inspired by the bactericidal and immunoregulatory functions of NETs, we developed a photothermal–immunomodulatory hydrogel reinforced by a Ti3C2/ZnAl‐LDH nanoplatform to mimic NETs‐like antimicrobial defense while overcoming their inherent limitations. Hollow photothermal nanoparticles were fabricated from 2D Ti3C2 and ZnAl‐LDH (TiZ) nanosheets and infused with chlorogenic acid, forming CTiZ. These were cloaked in membranes derived from apoptotic neutrophils to create a NETs‐mimetic functional bacterial trapper (CTiZM), which was then encapsulated within a thermoresponsive dopa‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel (dopa‐PNIPAm, DP), yielding a composite hydrogel system designated CTiZM@DP. This sophisticated platform amplifies antibacterial potency through effective microbial entrapment and the generation of reactive oxygen species, while simultaneously orchestrating the polarization of macrophages toward a reparative M2 phenotype under the influence of gentle photothermal stimulation. Collectively, this integrative strategy heralds a promising therapeutic modality for the eradication of multidrug‐resistant infections and the enhancement of wound healing in individuals with diabetes.

A NETs‐inspired Ti3C2/LDH hydrogel integrates trapping, ROS boosting, and M2‐immunomodulation for MRSA‐infected wound repair.