Harmonizing Rigidity and Flexibility: Embedding COF Quantum Dots Into Extracellular Matrix Gel as Carbon Monoxide...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections pose a significant threat, complicating both pathogen clearance and subsequent tissue regeneration.
• Effective treatments must address both the infectious burden and the challenges of post-infection wound healing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an acoustically triggered carbon monoxide (CO) depot for simultaneous infection treatment and tissue regeneration.
• To engineer a novel biomaterial for sustained CO release and therapeutic efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a rigid-flexible polymer network integrating CO precursor-loaded metallized covalent organic framework quantum dots (COFQDs) within a decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) gel.
• Ultrasound activation for triggering CO release and sonodynamic therapy.
• In vivo testing in a murine methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-infected wound model.

Main Results:

• The COFQDs demonstrated high-capacity CO storage and sustained release for up to 10 days via ECM enzymatic degradation.
• Ultrasound activation eradicated pathogens through sonodynamic therapy and modulated inflammatory pathways (NF‑κB/MAPK/IRF3) via released CO.
• The depot promoted synergistic tissue regeneration with SIS-derived growth factors, achieving superior scarless healing in MRSA-infected wounds.

Conclusions:

• The rigid-flexible synergistic design provides a temporally regulated anti-infective therapy.
• This acoustically triggered CO depot represents a promising strategy for managing MDR infections and promoting wound healing.