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Updated: May 9, 2026

Creation and Transplantation of an Adipose-derived Stem Cell ASC Sheet in a Diabetic Wound-healing Model
Published on: August 4, 2017
Tissue-Conforming Organoselenium Hydrogel with Microphase-Controlled Acylhydrazone Crosslinking Kinetics Expedites
Jianyang Zhao1,2,3,4, Yuan Hu1,2,3,4, Caikun Liu1,2,3,4
1School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Guangzhou International Campus, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Diabetic wounds present a pressing clinical challenge due to their self-perpetuating pathological microenvironment, where oxidative stress, the accumulation of advanced glycation end-products and their receptors (AGE-RAGE), and chronic inflammation form a vicious cycle that impedes healing. The effective delivery of therapeutic agents by existing antioxidant hydrogels is compromised by their poor conformability to complex wound geometries due to rapid crosslinking kinetics, resulting in the failure to correct these interconnected pathological processes. Here, we synthesize an organoselenium polymer (OSP) capable of microphase-separation to extend acylhydrazone crosslinking kinetics, thereby producing a tissue-conforming organoselenium hydrogel (TCOH) that effectively presents organoselenium motifs to the pathological diabetic wound bed. The TCOH can effectively restore redox homeostasis, enhance angiogenesis, and reprogram the immune microenvironment by promoting M2 macrophage polarization. Transcriptomic profiling and Western Blot analyses concurrently confirm the restoration of glycolipid metabolism and suppression of AGE-RAGE and NF-κB signaling. This multifaceted restoration of the pro-healing microenvironment results in accelerated wound closure, enhanced collagen deposition, and functional tissue regeneration. Our work establishes a new paradigm in chronic wound management by integrating dynamic material adaptation with multi-targeted pathological regulation, offering a promising therapeutic platform for various redox- and AGE-related chronic diseases.
Insights
A novel organoselenium hydrogel (TCOH) effectively treats diabetic wounds by restoring redox balance and reprogramming the immune microenvironment. This promotes faster healing and tissue regeneration, offering a new therapeutic approach for chronic diseases.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Wound Healing
Background:
- Diabetic wounds exhibit a pathological microenvironment characterized by oxidative stress, advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), and chronic inflammation, hindering healing.
- Existing antioxidant hydrogels lack conformability, compromising therapeutic agent delivery and failing to address the interconnected pathological processes in diabetic wounds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize a tissue-conforming organoselenium hydrogel (TCOH) with extended crosslinking kinetics for effective diabetic wound management.
- To investigate the TCOH's ability to restore redox homeostasis, enhance angiogenesis, and modulate the immune microenvironment.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of an organoselenium polymer (OSP) enabling microphase-separation and extended acylhydrazone crosslinking.
- In vitro and in vivo evaluation of TCOH's therapeutic effects on diabetic wound healing.
- Transcriptomic profiling and Western Blot analysis to assess molecular signaling pathways (AGE-RAGE, NF-κB) and metabolic profiles.
Main Results:
- TCOH demonstrated effective conformability to wound geometries, delivering organoselenium motifs to the wound bed.
- TCOH successfully restored redox homeostasis, promoted M2 macrophage polarization, and enhanced angiogenesis.
- Suppression of AGE-RAGE and NF-κB signaling pathways and restoration of glycolipid metabolism were confirmed, leading to accelerated wound closure and tissue regeneration.
Conclusions:
- The developed TCOH offers a promising therapeutic platform for diabetic wound healing by dynamically adapting to tissue and regulating multiple pathological pathways.
- This approach represents a new paradigm in chronic wound management, with potential applications for other redox- and AGE-related chronic diseases.

