Quaternized chitosan/Salvianolic acid B multifunctional hydrogel with ROS/glucose dual responsive properties for...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Wound Healing

Background:

• Diabetic wounds (DW) are severe complications of diabetes, characterized by impaired healing due to oxidative stress, inflammation, and aberrant macrophage responses.
• Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and dysregulated inflammation significantly hinder the natural wound healing cascade in diabetic patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an environment-responsive hydrogel (QF/SAB) for effective diabetic wound management.
• To investigate the hydrogel's ability to address hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and macrophage polarization in diabetic wounds.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a QF/SAB hydrogel using 2-formylphenylboronic acid (2-FPBA), salvianolic acid B (SAB), and quaternary chitosan (QCS).
• Incorporation of dynamic boronic ester and imine bonds for environment-responsive drug release.
• In vitro assessment of ROS scavenging, antibacterial activity, and macrophage polarization (M2 phenotype).
• In vivo evaluation on a full-thickness diabetic wound model.

Main Results:

• The QF/SAB hydrogel demonstrated on-demand SAB release triggered by hyperglycemia and oxidative stress.
• The hydrogel effectively scavenged ROS, inhibited bacterial growth, and promoted M2 macrophage polarization.
• In vivo studies showed accelerated wound healing, with 91.9% healing by day 10 compared to 68.36% in controls.
• Significant reduction in inflammation, enhanced collagen deposition, and promoted angiogenesis were observed.

Conclusions:

• The QF/SAB hydrogel is a promising therapeutic strategy for managing diabetic wounds.
• Its responsive nature and multifaceted action address key challenges in diabetic wound healing.
• This innovative hydrogel demonstrates significant potential for improving patient outcomes in diabetic wound care.