An Autoclavable, Antifreezing, Fluorescent Biomass Derived DNA Dot Organogel for Simultaneous Self-Sterilization, ROS...

Biomass-derived gels offer benefits such as drug delivery and a moist environment, but they typically lack mechanical strength, therapeutic properties, monitoring capabilities, and autoclave resistance. Enhancing these attributes requires precise, cost-effective chemical modification of the biomass material. Herein, a chemical-free approach to transform biomass DNA from onion into DNA nanodots (DNA Dots) that serve as cross-linking cores, chemically bonded with polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) through Michael addition, is presented. Using glycerol as the organic liquid phase, the DNA Dot-PEGDA conjugate is formulated into an organogel with exceptional mechanical strength to withstand autoclave sterilization, exhibits antifreeze properties, and sustainably delivers Insulin at the wound site to accelerate healing. Besides cross-linking, the DNA Dots' rich photophysical properties enable fluorescent tracking of the organogel and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) under visible light irradiation, maintaining antibiotic-free sterility. While controlled ROS generation inhibits bacterial growth, biocompatibility is not compromised. The newly formulated organogel expedites the healing process in normal and diabetic conditions as tested using HEKa cells. This represents the first example of converting biomass DNA into nanodots to develop a multifunctional organogel that is autoclavable, anti-freezing, trackable, and capable of delivering growth factor while simultaneously generating and scavenging ROS for potential wound healing applications.