Chitosan based cryogel loaded with zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 and glucose oxidase enabling hemostasis and...

The management of diabetic wounds represents a pivotal aspect of clinical care, as the hyperglycemic milieu within these wounds significantly impedes the healing process and predisposes to severe complications. Moreover, uncontrolled hemorrhage post-injury further exacerbates the impediment to wound healing. Cryogels, characterized by their porous architecture, exhibit exceptional capabilities in absorbing blood exudates, facilitating rapid hemostatic and augmenting wound healing. In this study, we utilized a sulfobetaine-modified chitosan and graphene oxide (SCG) composite as the cryogel matrix, which was subsequently impregnated with zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) to enhance the cryogel's adsorption capacity and optimizing hemostatic properties. Concurrently, glucose oxidase (GO_X) was encapsulated within ZIF-67, leveraging the framework's propensity to degrade under the acidic conditions prevalent in diabetic wounds. This controlled release of GO_X in the hyperglycemic and acidic environment of diabetic wounds reduces local glucose concentrations, thereby fostering wound healing. The hemostatic efficacy of the SCG/ZIF-67/GO_X cryogel was rigorously assessed through three distinct animal hemorrhage models. Furthermore, in a full-thickness skin wound model in type I diabetic mice, the SCG/ZIF-67/GO_X cryogel demonstrated significant efficacy in promoting the healing of diabetic wounds. These findings highlight the SCG/ZIF-67/GO_X cryogel's potential as a promising therapeutic intervention for rapid hemostasis and diabetic wounds healing.