Metformin/dopamine derived bioactive carbon dots accelerate bacteria‐infected wound healing

Abstract Bacterial infections have seriously impaired the wound healing. Despite numerous antibiotics have been developed to inhibit bacteria, the emergence of antibiotic resistance necessitates a rethinking of the public health crisis. In this study, we introduce the carbon dots derived from metformin and dopamine (MD‐CDs) as a novel approach to promote the healing of bacterial‐infected wound. Through a hydrothermal reaction, the regularly spherical MD‐CDs were prepared. Owing to their inherent antibacterial property, MD‐CDs effectively inhibited the wound infection and expedited the transition from the inflammation phase to the healing phase in infected wound. Additionally, MD‐CDs enhanced the proliferation and migration of L929 cells, which is crucial for wound tissue regeneration. Following the treatment of infected full‐thickness skin wounds, MD‐CDs effectively promoted the collagen deposition and regeneration of hair follicle in the healing phase. Consequently, MD‐CDs represent a bioactive nanomaterial exhibiting inherent antibacterial, offering a promising alternative for the treatment of infected wounds.