Injectable hydrogels are promising for periodontitis treatment, yet achieving rapid gelation, mechanical strength, and multifunctionality under physiological conditions is challenging. Here, we report a tetrahydroxy diboron (THDB)-initiated hydrogel comprising N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA), chlorhexidine, and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS), which gels within 2 min without deoxygenation. THDB reacts with vinyl monomers and oxygen to overcome inhibition while undergoing structural evolution to form functional domains. The hydrogel features: (1) dynamic hydrogen bonding and B–O/N coordination for enhanced strength; (2) THDB–CMCS interaction for strong bioadhesion; (3) boronic acid-induced acidity for antibacterial activity against P. gingivalis, S. mutans, S. aureus, and E. coli; and (4) reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging via residual B–B bonds to promote osteogenesis. In vivo, it accelerates alveolar bone regeneration in a rat periodontitis model. This one-step injectable platform integrates gelation, reinforcement, adhesion, antibacterial, and antioxidative properties, offering strong therapeutic potential for periodontitis and related inflammatory diseases.
Pan et al. (Tue,) studied this question.