D-Peptide Engineered Double-Network Hydrogels for Synergistic Infection Control and Tumor Therapy

The concurrence of drug-resistant infections and malignant tumors poses a serious challenge to clinical treatment, demanding multifunctional biomaterials with integrated therapeutic efficacy. In this study, we developed D-peptide engineered double-network (DN) hydrogels by combining a mechanically robust GelMA framework with a bioactive D-peptide (ik3) that exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial and antitumor properties. The DN architecture provides improved toughness and stability under physiological conditions, while the incorporation of the ik3 peptide enhances proteolytic resistance and ensures sustained bioactivity. <i>In vitro</i> experiments demonstrated efficient inhibition of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial growth as well as apoptosis induction in a variety of tumor cell lines. Overall, these findings support D-peptide modified DN hydrogels as a promising multifunctional platform for synergistic infection control and tumor therapy.