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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
Protocol to Create Chronic Wounds in Diabetic Mice
Published on: September 25, 2019
A Highly Efficient and Biocompatible Cupper-Based Single-Atom Nanocatalyst with Unsaturated Coordination Structure
Shiyu Xu1, Yin Yuan2, Yukun Pan3
1Low Dimensional Materials Chemistry Laboratory, Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, Frontier Science Center of the Materials Biology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P. R. China.
A novel copper single-atom catalyst (Cu SA@MCSN) with unsaturated coordination exhibits pH-dependent enzymatic activity. This catalyst shows promise for treating diabetic wounds by combining antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Catalysis
Background:
- Unsaturated coordination in single-atom catalysts enhances activity but is structurally unstable.
- Precisely controlling unsaturated coordination environments is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a stable copper single-atom catalyst with unsaturated coordination.
- To investigate its pH-dependent enzymatic activities and therapeutic potential.
Main Methods:
- A "micelle-confined oxidative crosslinking and coupled coordination" strategy was employed.
- Fabrication of a copper single-atom catalyst within a silica-carbon framework (Cu SA@MCSN).
- Evaluation of enzymatic activities (peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase) and therapeutic effects in a diabetic wound model.
Main Results:
- Cu SA@MCSN demonstrated unique pH-dependent multiple-enzymatic activity.
- Acidic conditions showed high peroxidase-like activity (low Km, high Vmax).
- Neutral conditions exhibited superoxide dismutase- and catalase-like activity.
- Density functional theory confirmed enhanced catalytic activity of asymmetric Cu-N2 sites.
- Metformin-loaded Cu SA@MCSN showed antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects in a MRSA-infected diabetic rat model.
Conclusions:
- The developed Cu SA@MCSN catalyst offers a stable platform for unsaturated coordination.
- Its pH-dependent enzymatic activities hold potential for targeted wound therapy.
- The catalyst demonstrates combined antibacterial and anti-inflammatory capabilities for treating complex wounds.
