Multifunctional ROS-responsive hydrogels alleviate subconjunctival inflammation

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Ophthalmology
• Immunology

Background:

• Persistent subconjunctival inflammation can lead to vision-threatening complications, including fibrosis.
• Current pharmacological treatments for subconjunctival inflammation face limitations due to administration challenges and potential toxicity.
• There is a critical need for advanced therapeutic approaches to effectively manage subconjunctival inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel multi-network hydrogel (CPES) for suppressing early subconjunctival inflammation.
• To investigate the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging properties of the CPES hydrogel.
• To assess the therapeutic potential of CPES in a preclinical model of subconjunctival inflammation.

Main Methods:

• A one-step mixing process was used to synthesize the CPES hydrogel, characterized by dynamic borate esters and thioether crosslinks.
• The hydrogel's properties, including gelation stability, swelling, self-repair, ROS scavenging capacity, and cell compatibility, were evaluated.
• The efficacy of CPES in controlling inflammation was tested in a rat model of subconjunctival injury.

Main Results:

• CPES hydrogels demonstrated excellent gelation stability, appropriate swelling ratios, and robust self-adaptive/self-repair capabilities.
• The hydrogel exhibited significant free radical scavenging capacity and good biocompatibility.
• In a rat model, CPES effectively mitigated early-stage subconjunctival inflammation.

Conclusions:

• CPES hydrogels possess desirable properties for therapeutic applications, including controllable biodegradability and potent ROS scavenging.
• The developed hydrogel platform shows significant promise for controlling subconjunctival inflammation.
• CPES represents a viable therapeutic strategy for preventing vision-threatening complications associated with subconjunctival inflammation.