Smart Gel Speeds Healing in Diabetic Wounds
Summary: A recent study in Advanced Materials introduces a responsive hydrogel that delivers RNA therapy to diabetic wounds. The material releases treatment in sync with the wound’s oxidative stress levels, silencing harmful genes and reducing tissue breakdown. In preclinical testing, the system accelerated healing, reorganized collagen, and improved the wound’s immune environment, offering a promising new approach for chronic wound care. (Nanowerk Spotlight)
Key Highlights:
- The challenge: Diabetic wounds are marked by excess reactive oxygen species and overactive enzymes like MMP-9 that disrupt healing.
- Therapeutic innovation: Small interfering RNA (siRNA) targets MMP-9, but it needs protection to survive the wound’s harsh environment.
- Hydrogel design: A branched polymer (SS HPT) carries siRNA within a hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel. The gel is engineered to respond to oxidative stress by disassembling and releasing therapy when reactive oxygen levels are high.
- Preclinical results: In diabetic mice, wounds treated with the siRNA-loaded hydrogel healed by over 96% within 10 days—significantly outperforming controls.
- Tissue outcomes: Treated wounds showed reduced MMP-9 activity, better collagen organization, stronger epithelial coverage, and a favorable shift in macrophages from inflammatory (M1) to regenerative (M2).
- Safety profile: No major organ toxicity or systemic effects were observed; the hydrogel localized treatment to the wound site.
- Broader impact: This adaptive, environment-sensitive therapy demonstrates a new model for precision wound care, aligning treatment with the body’s own healing signals.
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Keywords:
hydrogel,
diabetic wounds,
RNA therapy,
oxidative stress,
MMP-9,
Advanced Materials