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An Innovative Sprayable Mg-MOF Hydrogel Enhances Healing of Chronic Wounds with Multifaceted Pathologies in a Porcine
Shunxiang Xu1,2, Kexin Zhang3, Hongwei Shao1,2
1Musculoskeletal Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR999077, P. R. China.
ACS Nano
|August 11, 2026
Summary
A novel sprayable hydrogel containing Mg-ZIF-8 and tea polyphenol (TP) effectively treats chronic wounds. It sequentially reduces inflammation, oxidative stress, and promotes nerve and blood vessel regeneration for accelerated healing.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Wound Healing Research
Background:
- Chronic wounds exhibit persistent inflammation, oxidative stress, and impaired neurovascular function, hindering effective healing with conventional treatments.
- Current therapeutic strategies often fail to address the multifactorial nature of chronic wound pathophysiology.
- There is a critical need for advanced wound dressings that offer sequential and targeted therapeutic interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer a novel sprayable hydrogel, Mg-ZIF-8@TP@Alg, for sequential management of chronic wound conditions.
- To investigate the synergistic effects of Mg-ZIF-8 and tea polyphenol (TP) on cellular behaviors and wound microenvironment.
- To evaluate the efficacy of the hydrogel in promoting chronic wound healing in a preclinical model.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a sprayable Mg-ZIF-8@TP@Alg hydrogel with differential release and pH-responsive properties.
- In vitro assessment of ROS-scavenging, macrophage polarization, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis.
- In vivo evaluation in a porcine wound model, including immune cell profiling, vascularization, and nerve regeneration analysis.
- Transcriptomic analysis to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying hydrogel-mediated wound repair.
Main Results:
- The Mg-ZIF-8@TP@Alg hydrogel demonstrated synergistic ROS-scavenging and promoted M2 macrophage polarization in vitro.
- In vivo studies showed accelerated wound healing, characterized by reduced pro-inflammatory cells and increased M2 macrophages.
- Significant enhancement of vascular neogenesis (CD31+) and peripheral nerve regeneration (β3-tubulin+) was observed.
- Transcriptomic analysis revealed modulation of key pathways including ion transport, immune suppression, and skin development.
Conclusions:
- The engineered Mg-ZIF-8@TP@Alg hydrogel offers a promising, stage-specific therapeutic strategy for chronic wound management.
- The hydrogel effectively remodels the wound microenvironment, addressing inflammation, oxidative stress, and promoting tissue regeneration.
- This innovative biomaterial presents a potential advancement in clinical treatments for non-healing wounds.