Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026
09:15
Come to the Light Side: In Vivo Monitoring of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Infections in Chronic Wounds in a Diabetic Hairless Murine Model
Published on: October 10, 2017
Mesoporous Catalytic-Adsorptive Nanoregulator Orchestrates Biofilm eDNA/LPS Disassembly and TLR9/TLR4 Immune
Junfeng Song1, Yang Song1, Xirui Huang1
1Lab of Advanced Materials, College of Smart Materials and Future Energy, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Advanced Science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
|June 26, 2026
Summary
A novel nano-regulator, CT/mAPF, effectively combats chronic diabetic foot infections by disrupting biofilms, eradicating bacteria, and neutralizing inflammation. This approach targets extracellular DNA and lipopolysaccharides, accelerating wound healing in diabetic models.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Chronic diabetic foot infections involve biofilms and hyperinflammation, driven by extracellular DNA (eDNA) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS).
- These factors create structural resistance and immune interference, hindering conventional therapies.
- The TLR4/9 signaling axis is implicated in the inflammatory response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a multifunctional nano-regulator for treating chronic diabetic foot infections.
- To address biofilm disruption, bacterial eradication, and debris neutralization simultaneously.
- To investigate the nano-regulator's efficacy in resolving infection and inflammation cycles.
Main Methods:
- Development of a Colistin (CT) and m-aminophenol formaldehyde (mAPF) based nano-regulator (CT/mAPF).
- Assessment of bactericidal activity and biofilm disruption via ROS-mediated eDNA fragmentation.
- Evaluation of LPS neutralization, eDNA degradation, and TLR4/9 pathway silencing.
- In vivo studies using diabetic mouse models to assess wound healing, bacterial clearance, and inflammatory markers.
Main Results:
- CT/mAPF demonstrated potent bactericidal activity (99.99%) and effective biofilm scaffold destruction.
- The nano-regulator neutralized LPS and degraded eDNA, silencing TLR4 and TLR9 signaling.
- Significant reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) was observed.
- Accelerated wound closure, enhanced angiogenesis, and collagen maturation were noted in diabetic mouse models.
Conclusions:
- The CT/mAPF nano-regulator offers an integrated strategy to overcome dual resistance in diabetic foot infections.
- This approach effectively resolves chronic infection and inflammation by targeting biofilms and immune responses.
- CT/mAPF presents a promising therapeutic candidate for Gram-negative bacteria-infected diabetic wounds.
Related Concept Videos
01:31Diabetic Foot Ulcer
Definition A diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a chronic, non-healing wound that develops in individuals with diabetes. It typically occurs on pressure-bearing areas such as the heel, metatarsal heads, or hallux, and carries a high risk of infection and amputation.Pathophysiology • The development of DFUs can be explained by four interconnected mechanisms: neuropathy, ischemia, infection, and impaired wound healing. • Neuropathy is the most common factor. Sensory neuropathy reduces pain perception,...
01:28Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
01:24Adherens Junctions
Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types – adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
01:29Biofilms
Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular polysaccharide matrix attached to surfaces. These microbial consortia can include single or multiple species, providing enhanced survival benefits by forming organized, multilayered structures.The formation of biofilms occurs through four key stages: attachment, colonization, development, and dispersal.During attachment, free-swimming planktonic cells adhere to a surface, often facilitated by...