Background: In diabetic wounds, hyperglycemia-induced cytotoxicity and impaired immune microenvironment plasticity directly hinder the wound healing process. Regulation of the hyperglycemic microenvironment and remodeling of the immune microenvironment are crucial.
Results: Here, we developed a nanozymatic functionalized regenerative microenvironmental regulator (AHAMA/CS-GOx@Zn-POM) for the effective repair of diabetic wounds. This novel construct integrated an aldehyde and methacrylic anhydride-modified hyaluronic acid hydrogel (AHAMA) and chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs) encapsulating zinc-based polymetallic oxonate nanozyme (Zn-POM) and glucose oxidase (GOx), facilitating a sustained release of release of both enzymes. The GOx catalyzed glucose to gluconic acid and (H₂O₂), thereby alleviating the effects of the hyperglycemic microenvironment on wound healing. Zn-POM exhibited catalase and superoxide dismutase activities to scavenge reactive oxygen species and H₂O₂, a by-product of glucose degradation. Additionally, Zn-POM induced M1 macrophage reprogramming to the M2 phenotype by inhibiting the MAPK/IL-17 signaling diminishing pro-inflammatory cytokines, and upregulating the expression of anti-inflammatory mediators, thus remodeling the immune microenvironment and enhancing angiogenesis and collagen regeneration within wounds. In a rat diabetic wound model, the application of AHAMA/CS-GOx@Zn-POM enhanced neovascularization and collagen deposition, accelerating the wound healing process.
Conclusions: Therefore, the regenerative microenvironment regulator AHAMA/CS-GOx@Zn-POM can achieve the effective conversion of a pathological microenvironment to regenerative microenvironment through integrated control of the hyperglycemic-immune microenvironment, offering a novel strategy for the treatment of diabetic wounds.
Keywords: Diabetic wounds; Hydrogels; Hyperglycaemic microenvironment; Immune microenvironment; Nanozymes.
© 2024. The Author(s).