Catechol-rich gelatin hydrogels in situ hybridizations with silver nanoparticle for enhanced antibacterial activity

A simple method using catecholic chemistry to prepare an injectable nanocomposite hydrogel with excellent antimicrobial activities. Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) were in situ synthesized within the gelatin hydrogel matrix, during the hydrogelation without use of toxic reductants. The hydrogels inhibited bacterial growth while not affected the viability of mammalian cells. This injectable hydrogel is easy to fabricate in vivo with promising potential for biomedical applications, where advantageous antibacterial activities are required to reduce the infection rates, for example wound dressing, tissue adhesives, biomaterial surface coatings …129