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The Synthesis of RGD-functionalized Hydrogels as a Tool for Therapeutic Applications
Published on: October 7, 2016
Carbopol® 940 Hydrogel Functionalised with Plasma-Activated Water: An Advanced Platform for Controlled ROS Delivery
Alma Neli Hernández-Arias1,2, Benjamín Gonzalo Rodríguez-Méndez1, Régulo López-Callejas1
1Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, Carretera México Toluca-La Marquesa s/n, Ocoyoacac 52750, Estado de México, Mexico.
Gels (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 27, 2026
Summary
A novel hydrogel loaded with plasma-activated water offers a new way to deliver oxidising agents for infection control. This innovative antimicrobial system shows promise for healing chronic wounds.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Wound Healing
- Antimicrobial Therapies
Background:
- The growing antimicrobial resistance crisis demands novel therapeutic strategies.
- Effective delivery of oxidising agents is crucial for combating infections.
- Existing treatments often face challenges with stability and controlled release.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize a Carbopol® 940 hydrogel functionalized with plasma-activated water (PAW).
- To evaluate the hydrogel's capacity for stabilizing and controlling the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
- To assess the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of the PAW-hydrogel system against bacterial infections and chronic wounds.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of PAW using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor.
- Characterization of hydrogel architecture using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).
- Assessment of ROS retention and release kinetics.
- In vitro antibacterial testing against Escherichia coli.
- Clinical proof-of-concept in a patient with a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU).
Main Results:
- The hydrogel exhibited a stable nanoporous structure, acting as an effective reservoir for ROS.
- 100% retention of ozone (O3) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for 90 minutes was achieved, extending biological activity.
- Therapeutic concentrations of H2O2 were maintained beyond 45 hours.
- Significant in vitro antibacterial activity against E. coli (25 mm inhibition zone).
- Successful clinical outcome in a DFU patient, achieving complete infection remission and wound closure within 60 days using the hydrogel as monotherapy.
Conclusions:
- The PAW-Carbopol® 940 hydrogel platform demonstrates efficient stabilization and controlled release of ROS.
- The system exhibits potent antimicrobial activity and promotes chronic wound healing.
- This low-cost therapeutic offers a sustainable alternative for advanced wound management and regenerative medicine.
