Enhanced diabetic wound healing with injectable hydrogel containing self-assembling nanozymes

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Wound Healing
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Diabetic wounds present a complex healing challenge due to variable microenvironments, including high glucose and infection.
• Existing treatments often lack the adaptability to address the dynamic changes during wound healing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multifunctional, smart wound dressing for infected diabetic wounds.
• To create a system that responds to the wound microenvironment for effective infection control and healing promotion.

Main Methods:

• Co-incorporation of glucose oxidase (GOx) and a pH-responsive Cu2-xSe-BSA nanozyme into a dual-dynamic bond cross-linked hydrogel (OBG).
• The composite hydrogel (OBG@CG) was designed to respond to acidic and high-glucose conditions.
• Evaluation of antibacterial properties, biofilm disruption, and promotion of wound healing through RNA-seq analysis.

Main Results:

• The OBG@CG hydrogel effectively generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in acidic, high-glucose conditions to degrade biofilms.
• Upon pH elevation during healing, ROS generation ceased, and released Cu2+ promoted collagen production and endothelial cell activity.
• Demonstrated significant antibacterial effects by disrupting biofilm integrity and interfering with bacterial metabolism.

Conclusions:

• The developed smart wound dressing offers an innovative glucose consumption strategy for infected diabetic wound management.
• The dressing's ability to dynamically respond to the wound microenvironment facilitates both infection control and tissue regeneration.
• This approach holds promise for advancing the development of intelligent wound care solutions.