Promotes MRSA infected wound healing by using photothermal responsive and ROS generating black phosphorus nano...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Wound Healing

Background:

• Hyperglycemia-induced microvascular damage impairs chronic wound healing and increases susceptibility to bacterial infections.
• The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria complicates the treatment of infected diabetic wounds.
• Novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed for diabetic wounds infected with drug-resistant pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a black phosphorus nano-snowflake enhanced hydrogel (BPSFs@H) for treating diabetic infected wounds.
• To leverage BPSFs as photothermal-responsive nanozymes for antibacterial activity and wound repair.
• To investigate the efficacy of BPSFs@H against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and its impact on wound healing.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of black phosphorus nano-snowflakes (BPSFs) and their incorporation into a hydrogel matrix to form BPSFs@H.
• Evaluation of BPSFs@H's photothermal responsiveness and antibacterial activity against MRSA, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.
• In vitro assessment of BPSFs@H's effects on cell migration, neovascularization, and macrophage phenotype modulation.
• In vivo studies using animal models to evaluate the hydrogel's efficacy in promoting diabetic wound regeneration and healing.

Main Results:

• BPSFs@H demonstrated near-infrared (NIR) triggered photothermal responsiveness and effective inhibition of MRSA via ROS generation.
• The hydrogel significantly promoted cell migration, neovascularization, and modulated macrophages towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype.
• Animal studies showed that BPSFs@H substantially accelerated epithelial tissue regeneration and enhanced infected wound healing.
• Mechanisms included augmented collagen deposition, improved inflammatory response, and accelerated angiogenesis, leading to enhanced re-epithelialization.

Conclusions:

• BPSFs@H hydrogel presents a promising therapeutic strategy for infected diabetic wounds, particularly those caused by drug-resistant bacteria.
• The combination of photothermal therapy, ROS generation, and biomodulation offers a multi-faceted approach to accelerate wound repair.
• This novel biomaterial effectively addresses key challenges in diabetic wound management, including infection and impaired healing.