A Binary Natural Herbal Co-Assembled Hydrogel for Expediting MRSA-Infected Diabetic Wound Healing via Robust...

Due to the self-delivery, self-release, biodegradation, and biocompatibility, Chinese herbal medicine-based self-assembled hydrogels are recognized as promising candidates as wound dressing to dispose diabetic wound. However, most of them consist of single-component that induces dissatisfactory therapeutic effects, imposing obstacles to their widespread applications. Herein, a carrier-free herbal hydrogel fabricated by co-assembly of medicative mangiferin and polydatin is invented for treating MRSA-infected diabetic wound, where π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding guide the formation of the hydrogel. The as-prepared hydrogel is suitable for use as a wound dressing due to its high thermostability, continuous release, biodegradability, and outstanding mechanical properties. Remarkable bacterial suppression and massive bacterial biofilm removal are discerned after applying the co-assembled hydrogel. It also exhibits the capacity to recruit healing-related cells, scavenge ROS, and expedite revascularization. The dysfunction of macrophages is ameliorated, tending to transform to an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype rather than proinflammatory M1 phenotype. It is these therapeutic efficacies that ascertain high-performance wound restoration in diabetic rats, where bacteria are eradicated, inflammatory are alleviated, re-epithelialization, revascularization, and collagen deposition are accelerated. Notably, the current study not only furnishes a hydrogel wound dressing for healing MRSA-infected diabetic wound, but also opens up new prospects for reformation of herbal-based carrier-free hydrogel.