Multifunctional Hydrogel Microneedle Patches Modulating Oxi-inflamm-aging for Diabetic Wound Healing

Small. 2024 Dec;20(51):e2407340. doi: 10.1002/smll.202407340. Epub 2024 Oct 3.

Abstract

Oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and immune senescence are important pathologic factors in diabetic wound nonhealing. This study loads taurine (Tau) into cerium dioxide (CeO2) to develop CeO2@Tau nanoparticles with excellent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging properties. To enhance the drug penetration efficiency in wounds, CeO2@Tau is encapsulated in gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel to prepare CeO2@Tau@Hydrogel@Microneedle (CTH@MN) patch system. Microneedle technology achieves precise and efficient delivery of CeO2@Tau, ensuring their deep penetration into the wound tissue for optimal efficacy. Rigorous in vitro and in vivo tests have confirmed the satisfactory therapeutic effect of CTH@MN patch on diabetic wound healing. Mechanistically, CTH@MN attenuates oxidative damage and inflammatory responses in macrophages by inhibiting the ROS/NF-κB signaling pathway. Meanwhile, CTH@MN activated autophagy-mediated anti-aging activity, creating a favorable immune microenvironment for tissue repair. Notably, in a diabetic mouse wound model, the multifunctional CTH@MN patch significantly promotes wound healing by systematically regulating the oxidation-inflammation-aging (oxi-inflamm-aging) pathological axis. In conclusion, the in-depth exploration of the CTH@MN system in this study provides new strategies and perspectives for treating diabetic non-healing wounds.

Keywords: cerium dioxide; diabetic wounds; microneedles; oxidation‐inflammation‐aging; taurine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cerium / chemistry
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental* / drug therapy
  • Gelatin / chemistry
  • Hydrogels* / chemistry
  • Inflammation* / drug therapy
  • Inflammation* / pathology
  • Male
  • Methacrylates
  • Mice
  • Needles
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Wound Healing* / drug effects

Substances

  • Hydrogels
  • Cerium
  • ceric oxide
  • gelatin methacryloyl
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Gelatin
  • Methacrylates