Research Paper

Multifunctional Hal@MoO3-x heterojunction nanocomposite for NIR-I photothermal-enhanced antibacterial and wound healing

This work developed a novel multifunctional heterojunction nanocomposite (Hal@MoO3-x) for wound healing, which is fabricated the via in-situ growth of MoO3-x nanocrystals within the inner cavities and on the outer surface of halloysite nanotubes (Hal). Interfacial interactions at the Hal/MoO3-x heterojunction markedly improved light absorption and photo-thermal conversion properties in the NIR-I region. Under 980 nm laser irradiation at 5 W/cm2, the nanocomposite achieved a rapid temperature increase of 27 °C within 10 min and demonstrated outstanding photo-thermal cycling stability. In vitro antibacterial assays revealed a 99% antibacterial efficiency against S. aureus, with bacterial viability reduced to nearly zero upon NIR-I exposure. In a mouse full-thickness skin defect model, the Hal@MoO3-x nanocomposite exhibited excellent wound-healing promotion effect under NIR-I irradiation, achieving a high wound healing rate (96%) within 10 days. Histopathological analysis and body weight monitoring confirmed the absence of obvious systemic toxicity, affirming desirable biosafety. This nanoplatform effectively overcomes the limitations of conventional dressings, such as weak antibacterial activity and single functionality, offering an integrated solution for rapid wound regeneration.