Programmed microalgae-gel promotes chronic wound healing in diabetes

Programmed microalgae-gel promotes chronic wound healing in diabetes

03 February 2024 | Yong Kang, Lingling Xu, Jinrui Dong, Xue Yuan, Jiamin Ye, Yueyue Fan, Bing Liu, Julin Xie & Xiaoyuan Ji
A programmed microalgae-gel promotes chronic wound healing in diabetes. Chronic diabetic wounds are at risk of developing diabetic foot ulcers due to severe hypoxia, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), a complex inflammatory microenvironment, and the potential for bacterial infection. This study develops a programmed treatment strategy using live Haematococcus (HEA) cells, which can be programmed to perform various functions such as antibacterial activity, oxygen supply, ROS scavenging, and immune regulation. Under high light intensity (658 nm, 0.5 W/cm²), green HEA (GHEA) mediates wound surface disinfection. By decreasing light intensity (658 nm, 0.1 W/cm²), GHEA continuously produces oxygen, resolving hypoxia and promoting vascular regeneration. Continuous light irradiation induces astaxanthin (AST) accumulation in HEA cells, transforming them from green to red (RHEA). RHEA scavenges excess ROS, enhances intracellular antioxidant enzymes, and directs macrophage polarization to M2. The living HEA hydrogel sterilizes, enhances cell proliferation and migration, and promotes neoangiogenesis, improving infected diabetic wound healing in mice. Approximately 537 million people worldwide have diabetes, with a projected 46% increase by 2045. A quarter of diabetic patients face a lifetime threat of nonhealing wounds, with 68% having a life expectancy of less than 5 years. Hypoxia-induced neovascularization is a major cause of chronic wound deterioration in diabetes. High glucose triggers rapid degradation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha, impairing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) upregulation. Excessive ROS causes irreversible damage to biomolecules and sustains macrophage M1 phenotype, exacerbating inflammation. Bacterial infection worsens hypoxia and inflammation. Designing a hydrogel with space-time controllable oxygen release, ROS scavenging, macrophage polarization, and antibacterial properties is crucial for chronic diabetic wound treatment. Hydrogels, three-dimensional cross-linked polymer networks, are suitable for various applications due to their biocompatibility. They can be used as scaffolds, drug delivery systems, and wound dressings. Hydrogels can be engineered to respond to external stimuli, enabling controlled drug release. They are promising wound dressings due to their softness and ability to absorb exudates. Multifunctional hydrogels for wound repair contain oxygen for hypoxia resolution, polyphenolic substances or nanozymes for ROS scavenging, and macrophage polarity-modulating molecules. However, current designs have issues such as complex separation, tedious preparation, low synergistic efficiency, and limited space-time control. A hydrogel dressing with a simple composition but procedural therapeutic strategy is needed. Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMAA programmed microalgae-gel promotes chronic wound healing in diabetes. Chronic diabetic wounds are at risk of developing diabetic foot ulcers due to severe hypoxia, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), a complex inflammatory microenvironment, and the potential for bacterial infection. This study develops a programmed treatment strategy using live Haematococcus (HEA) cells, which can be programmed to perform various functions such as antibacterial activity, oxygen supply, ROS scavenging, and immune regulation. Under high light intensity (658 nm, 0.5 W/cm²), green HEA (GHEA) mediates wound surface disinfection. By decreasing light intensity (658 nm, 0.1 W/cm²), GHEA continuously produces oxygen, resolving hypoxia and promoting vascular regeneration. Continuous light irradiation induces astaxanthin (AST) accumulation in HEA cells, transforming them from green to red (RHEA). RHEA scavenges excess ROS, enhances intracellular antioxidant enzymes, and directs macrophage polarization to M2. The living HEA hydrogel sterilizes, enhances cell proliferation and migration, and promotes neoangiogenesis, improving infected diabetic wound healing in mice. Approximately 537 million people worldwide have diabetes, with a projected 46% increase by 2045. A quarter of diabetic patients face a lifetime threat of nonhealing wounds, with 68% having a life expectancy of less than 5 years. Hypoxia-induced neovascularization is a major cause of chronic wound deterioration in diabetes. High glucose triggers rapid degradation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha, impairing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) upregulation. Excessive ROS causes irreversible damage to biomolecules and sustains macrophage M1 phenotype, exacerbating inflammation. Bacterial infection worsens hypoxia and inflammation. Designing a hydrogel with space-time controllable oxygen release, ROS scavenging, macrophage polarization, and antibacterial properties is crucial for chronic diabetic wound treatment. Hydrogels, three-dimensional cross-linked polymer networks, are suitable for various applications due to their biocompatibility. They can be used as scaffolds, drug delivery systems, and wound dressings. Hydrogels can be engineered to respond to external stimuli, enabling controlled drug release. They are promising wound dressings due to their softness and ability to absorb exudates. Multifunctional hydrogels for wound repair contain oxygen for hypoxia resolution, polyphenolic substances or nanozymes for ROS scavenging, and macrophage polarity-modulating molecules. However, current designs have issues such as complex separation, tedious preparation, low synergistic efficiency, and limited space-time control. A hydrogel dressing with a simple composition but procedural therapeutic strategy is needed. Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA
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