Photothermal-Responsive PVA-GelMA@rGO Nanocomposite Hydrogel for Light-Controlled Anti-Inflammatory Drug Delivery in Neural Applications

Background: Photothermal hydrogels enable noninvasive, light-controlled drug delivery for neural therapy. However, achieving stable mechanics and biocompatibility under NIR irradiation remains challenging. Methods: A PVA-GelMA@rGO nanocomposite hydrogel was fabricated by photopolymerization to integrate rGO's photothermal activity and ibuprofen loading capacity. Its structure, mechanical strength, photothermal performance, drug release, and biological responses were systematically evaluated. Results: The incorporation of rGO improved hydrogel compactness, modulus, and photothermal conversion, enabling stepwise ibuprofen release under NIR stimulation. The hydrogel showed excellent cytocompatibility with PC12 cells and significantly reduced IL-6 and TNF-alpha expression, indicating strong anti-inflammatory activity. Conclusion: The PVA-GelMA@rGO hydrogel provides an efficient and biocompatible platform for NIR-triggered, on-demand drug release and neuroinflammation control, offering promising potential for neural repair and pain modulation applications.