Sprayed low-temperature plasma-infused hydrogel dressing for skin-wound management

Chronic skin wounds, such as diabetic ulcers, represent a significant healthcare challenge due to their complex microenvironment, which includes bacterial infections, excessive inflammation, and impaired circulation. Traditional wound dressings often fail to address these multifaceted issues, while advanced hydrogel dressings, despite their advantages, are limited by susceptibility to bacterial growth, reliance on labile therapeutic components, and concerns about long-term biocompatibility.

We developed a sprayable low-temperature plasma (LTP)-infused hydrogel dressing as an effective solution for wound management. LTP, a room-temperature ionized gas enriched with reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, is known for its potent antibacterial properties and wound-healing potential.

By incorporating LTP-generated oxidizing species (Ox, including H₂O₂, NO₂^-, and NO₃^-) into a sprayable thermosensitive F127 hydrogel (Ox@F127), the Ox@F127 hydrogel dressing demonstrated broad-spectrum antibacterial efficacy and accelerated wound healing. In various skin-wound models, including bacteria-infected wounds in mice and diabetic minipigs, Ox@F127 effectively inhibited E. coli and MRSA infections and promoted wound healing. Mechanistic insights from RNA sequencing revealed that Ox@F127 enhances extracellular matrix remodeling, collagen regeneration, angiogenesis, and epithelialization.

This simple yet innovative approach offers a promising solution for chronic wound management, with significant potential for safe and effective clinical translation.

Funding was provided by a McGill start-up package, the National Key Research and Development Program of China, Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation, Shenzhen Science and Technology Major Project, Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation, and Shenzhen Outstanding Talents Training Fund.