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Engineered Sulfonated Bacterial Cellulose Hydrogel with Dual Bioactive-Drug Delivery Functions for Precision
Liangliang Zhang1, Xvyue Zhou1, Xinmeng Li2
1Hospital for Skin Diseases, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, China.
Biomacromolecules
|October 16, 2025
Summary
A novel sulfated bacterial cellulose/chitosan hydrogel (MTX-SBC/CS Gel) effectively treats psoriasis by delivering methotrexate and scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). This engineered hydrogel shows promise for managing inflammatory skin diseases.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Dermatology
- Immunology
Background:
- Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition linked to immune dysregulation and oxidative stress.
- Conventional therapies have limitations, necessitating novel treatment strategies.
- Engineered hydrogels offer potential for enhanced drug delivery and therapeutic effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a sulfated bacterial cellulose/chitosan hydrogel (MTX-SBC/CS Gel) for psoriasis management.
- To investigate the hydrogel's intrinsic bioactivity, controlled methotrexate delivery, and ROS-scavenging capabilities.
- To elucidate the therapeutic mechanisms of the engineered hydrogel in psoriatic models.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a sulfated bacterial cellulose/chitosan hydrogel with integrated methotrexate.
- In vitro characterization of hydrogel properties, drug compatibility, and release kinetics using molecular simulations and experiments.
- In vivo evaluation of the hydrogel's therapeutic efficacy in imiquimod-induced psoriatic mouse models.
- Transcriptomic analysis to identify the underlying molecular mechanisms of action.
Main Results:
- The MTX-SBC/CS Gel demonstrated potent ROS-scavenging activity due to sulfonation.
- The hydrogel exhibited controlled methotrexate release and enhanced drug-polymer interactions.
- Therapeutic efficacy in psoriatic models was comparable to betamethasone, with SBC alone showing benefits.
- SBC was found to downregulate the IL-23/Th17 axis, inhibit keratinocyte hyperproliferation, and restore redox homeostasis.
Conclusions:
- The engineered MTX-SBC/CS Gel is a promising platform for psoriasis treatment, combining drug delivery with intrinsic bioactivity.
- Sulfonation enhances ROS scavenging and optimizes drug release kinetics.
- The hydrogel's multimodal mechanism involves immune modulation and redox balance restoration, offering a new avenue for dermatoses management.
