Multifunctional Polyrotaxane Hydrogel with Dynamic Molecular Anchors and Microenvironment-Activatable Cationization...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Diabetic wound healing is complex and prone to multidrug-resistant infections.
• Traditional hydrogels have limited efficacy due to constrained therapeutic molecule release and non-specific antibacterial action.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel polyrotaxane-based hydrogel (FDS) for treating diabetic wounds complicated by drug-resistant bacterial infections.
• To engineer the hydrogel for controlled nitric oxide (NO) release and acid-responsive antibacterial activity.

Main Methods:

• Assembled SNO-modified β-cyclodextrin onto an F-127DA copolymer backbone.
• Copolymerized with dimethylamino propyl methacrylamide (DMAPMA) to create the FDS hydrogel.
• Evaluated antibacterial, biofilm-dispersing, angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing effects in vitro and in vivo.

Main Results:

• FDS hydrogel demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
• Exhibited significant biofilm-dispersing capabilities and enhanced angiogenesis.
• Showcased reduced inflammatory responses and accelerated healing of chronic diabetic wounds.

Conclusions:

• The FDS hydrogel's movable molecular anchoring facilitates NO delivery and microenvironment-activatable antibacterial activity.
• This novel hydrogel offers a promising therapeutic strategy for diabetic wound healing complicated by bacterial infections.
• The study provides new hope for addressing challenging wound infections in diabetic patients.