Paintable Bioactive Extracellular Vesicle Ink for Wound Healing

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Wound Healing Research

Background:

• Cutaneous wound treatment presents significant global health challenges.
• Effective wound healing requires managing inflammation and promoting tissue regeneration.
• Extracellular vesicles (EVs) show therapeutic potential in regenerative processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an efficient extracellular vesicle (EV) ink for wound healing.
• To investigate the potential of bioactive M2 macrophage-derived EVs (EV_M2) in regulating the wound microenvironment.
• To create a portable and adaptable delivery system for enhanced wound repair.

Main Methods:

• Formulation of a biocompatible EV-Gel using EV_M2 and sodium alginate.
• Development of the portable bioactive ink for tissue healing (PAINT) technology.
• Evaluation of PAINT in a mouse wound model, assessing angiogenesis and macrophage polarization.

Main Results:

• The EV-Gel was formed within 3 minutes, suitable for in situ application.
• EV_M2 reprogrammed macrophage polarization and promoted endothelial cell proliferation and migration.
• PAINT technology accelerated cutaneous wound healing by enhancing angiogenesis and M2 macrophage polarization in vivo.

Conclusions:

• Bioactive EV ink (PAINT) offers an efficient method for wound healing.
• The technology effectively regulates inflammation and promotes vascular regeneration.
• PAINT demonstrates high potential as a portable biomedical platform for healthcare applications.