Nanoclay Hydrogel Microspheres with a Sandwich-Like Structure for Complex Tissue Infection Treatment.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Infectious Disease Research

Background:

• Complex tissue infections pose significant treatment challenges due to limitations of conventional antimicrobial materials.
• There is a critical need for advanced bioantimicrobial materials with broad applicability and potent bactericidal activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel nanobactericidal platform for treating complex tissue infections.
• To assess the efficacy and biocompatibility of the developed hydrogel microspheres in vitro and in vivo.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a sandwich-like nanobactericidal platform using lithium magnesium silicate nanoclay (LMS) modified with copper ions via a dopamine-mediated metallophenolic network.
• Encapsulation of the nanoclay platform within gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel microspheres.
• In vitro evaluation of bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus and biocompatibility with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).
• In vivo assessment of hydrogel microsphere efficacy in deep infected tissues, focusing on bacterial elimination, vascular regeneration, and tissue repair.

Main Results:

• The developed hydrogel microspheres demonstrated effective eradication of Staphylococcus aureus.
• Excellent biocompatibility was observed with both BMSCs and HUVECs.
• Upregulation of osteogenic differentiation and angiogenesis-related gene expression was noted in treated cells.
• In vivo studies confirmed significant bacterial elimination and promoted robust vascular regeneration and tissue repair in deep infected tissues.

Conclusions:

• The innovative sandwich-like micro- and nanobactericidal hydrogel microspheres show significant potential for treating complex tissue infections.
• This platform offers a promising strategy for combating bacterial infections while simultaneously promoting tissue healing and regeneration.