Immunoregulatory Bioinspired Hydrogel from Decellularized Amnion for Infected Wound Healing

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Immunology

Background:

• Infectious wounds present significant clinical challenges due to bacterial persistence, inflammation, and poor healing.
• Current treatments often struggle to address the complex interplay of infection, inflammation, and regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multifunctional immunoregulatory hydrogel for enhanced infectious wound management.
• To investigate the synergistic effects of photothermal therapy and immunomodulation on wound healing.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a hydrogel matrix from decellularized human amniotic membrane (dECMMA) incorporating curcumin-loaded polydopamine-coated zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (Cur/ZIF/PDA) nanoparticles.
• Evaluation of the hydrogel's antibacterial, drug release, biocompatibility, and immunomodulatory properties.
• Assessment of *in vitro* and *in vivo* wound healing efficacy in a *Staphylococcus aureus* infected wound model.

Main Results:

• The dECMMA/ZIF/PDA hydrogel demonstrated potent photothermal antibacterial activity and controlled curcumin release.
• The hydrogel promoted M2 macrophage polarization, enhanced angiogenesis, and accelerated wound re-epithelialization and collagen remodeling.
• Synergistic photothermal therapy and immunomodulation significantly improved healing in infected wounds.

Conclusions:

• The developed bioinspired hydrogel offers a promising therapeutic strategy for chronic wound management.
• This approach effectively orchestrates immune microenvironment remodeling and promotes tissue regeneration for improved healing outcomes.