A "Hot Spring" Mimetic Aerogel Loaded with Multiple Amino Acids Modulates the Chronic Inflammatory Microenvironment...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Bioceramics

Background:

• Chronic wounds, like diabetic foot ulcers, heal slowly due to low local temperatures and impaired circulation, which reduce cellular metabolism.
• Existing treatments often struggle to address the complex inflammatory and metabolic challenges in chronic wound environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel therapeutic strategy using a nanofiber aerogel to accelerate chronic wound healing.
• To investigate the potential of a "hot spring" mimetic photothermal effect to enhance cell metabolism and promote tissue regeneration.

Main Methods:

• Engineered an extracellular matrix mimetic nanofiber aerogel co-delivering an eight essential-amino-acid cocktail and SrCuSi4O10 bioceramic particles.
• Evaluated the in vitro effects of temperature and amino acid treatment on fibroblast metabolism and cytotoxicity.
• Assessed in vivo wound healing, regenerative outcomes, and inflammatory responses following photothermal therapy.

Main Results:

• Physiological temperature (37°C) preserved the pro-healing bioactivity of amino acids, enhancing glutathione redox metabolism.
• Photothermal therapy with the amino acid-loaded aerogel significantly accelerated wound closure and improved collagen deposition and neovascularization.
• The treatment shifted the local inflammatory milieu from pro-inflammatory (M1 macrophages, neutrophils) to regenerative (M2 macrophages, anti-inflammatory cytokines).

Conclusions:

• The developed nanofiber aerogel with photothermal therapy offers a promising approach for chronic wound repair.
• Enhancing cell metabolism via photothermal stimulation and essential amino acids effectively promotes a regenerative healing environment.
• This strategy demonstrates significant potential for treating chronic wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers.