A self-powered dressing integrating portable perovskite solar cells to deliver direct ES that activates anti-inflammatory M2-type macrophage polarization, thereby regulating immune responses and reshaping infected-wound microenvironments is reported, providing a promising platform for infected-wound treatment.
Abstract
Self-powered dressings based on triboelectric or piezoelectric systems generate alternating electric stimulation (ES) that induces M1-type macrophage polarization and exacerbates inflammation, limiting therapeutic efficacy. Here, we report a self-powered dressing integrating portable perovskite solar cells to deliver direct ES that activates anti-inflammatory M2-type macrophage polarization, thereby regulating immune responses and reshaping infected-wound microenvironments. Under optimized conditions (130 mV/mm, 30 min), solar cell-derived ES combined with antimicrobial peptide-loaded silk fibroin hydrogel (AMP@hydrogel (+ES)) efficiently eradicated pathogens by disrupting bacterial respiration, while concurrently promoting fibroblast migration, vascular endothelial tubulogenesis, and neuron differentiation. In methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-infected wounds, AMP@hydrogel (+ES) achieved 99.8% wound closure through pathogen clearance and immune regulation, accompanied by enhanced collagen deposition, re-epithelization, angiogenesis, and nerve regeneration. Transcriptomic analysis identified cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and focal adhesion pathways as key mediators. As the first immunomodulatory self-powered dressing, AMP@hydrogel (+ES) provides a promising platform for infected-wound treatment.
Burn wounds are challenging to heal due to irregular tissue architecture, high bacterial susceptibility, excessive oxidative stress, and prolonged inflammation. Here, we report a multifunctional sprayable hydrogel (PM) by integrating MoB (MBene) nanosheets into a thermoresponsive Pluronic F127 matrix for comprehensive burn wound therapy. Benefiting from electron-deficient boron sites and multivalent Mo states, MoB exhibits robust SOD- and CAT-mimetic activities, enabling efficient ROS scavenging, restoration of mitochondrial homeostasis, and macrophage polarization toward an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. Meanwhile, MoB shows high photothermal conversion efficiency, endowing the hydrogel with potent photothermal antibacterial activity, achieving >90% bacterial inhibition. In vivo studies demonstrate that PM hydrogel combined with light irradiation effectively remodels the wound microenvironment and markedly accelerates healing of infected burn wounds, reaching a 94% healing rate by day 14. Transcriptomic analyses further reveal that PM promotes tissue repair by modulating immune responses, enhancing cell migration and differentiation, and activating wound-regeneration-related pathways. Overall, this MoB-empowered sprayable hydrogel represents a promising, translatable platform integrating antioxidative, immunomodulatory, and antibacterial functions for effective management of infected burn wounds.
Chunhong Chen, Jiangshan Liu, Xulu Ma et al.· Small· 0 citations
This work demonstrates a safe and effective strategy for combating MDR infections through the combined action of photothermal therapy and nanozyme catalysis, offering promising potential for clinical wound management.
Weiwei Zhang, Lixiang Fan, Xuanjun Zhang et al.· ACS Applied Materials and In...· 0 citations
The human skin is highly susceptible to bacterial infections and inflammation when its integrity is disrupted. Treatment of infected wounds is a big challenge in modern medicine, and rising antibiotic resistance motivates the development of antibiotic-free therapies. Here, we present a stimuli-responsive wound dressing that integrates carboxylated eggshell membrane (ESM) with electrosprayed tannic acid/iron (TAFe) particles trapped between electrospun Poly-L-lactide-caprolactone (PLCL) layers and precisely laser-structured to increase porosity and fit the wound size. The TAFe exhibits stable photothermal conversion and antioxidant activity, eradicating more than 99.5% of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), while maintaining high biocompatibility in vitro. In an infected rat model, the sandwich-like ESMmod/PLCL/TAFe dressing accelerated closure and achieved near-complete healing, with residual wound area <1% by day 14. Analysis shows that the material promotes M2-mediated reparative microenvironment, which, in consequence, suppresses TNFα and IL-6, a pro-inflammatory cytokines, and enhances angiogenesis through increased CD31 and VEGF levels. Moreover, a more organized collagen structure and less scarring were found in the wound bed. Importantly, the material is partially derived from waste, aligning with circular economy principles and reducing resource burden. The versatile composite offers an antibiotic-free strategy that disinfects, modulates inflammation, and promotes regeneration of infected wounds.
Daniel Rybak, Xingran Li, Alicja Kosik-Kozioł et al.· Small· 0 citations
Bacterial infection remains a major barrier to effective wound healing by disrupting immune homeostasis, sustaining chronic inflammation, and impairing tissue regeneration. Herein, we present a green, sustainable strategy for fabricating antibacterial, immunomodulatory bioactive granular hydrogels (GHs) for infected wound regeneration. An amino-alcohol ether prepolymer (MP) was first synthesized via epoxy–amine click chemistry and subsequently complexed with the natural polyphenol tannic acid (TA), thereby triggering phase-separation-driven supramolecular self-assembly into GHs without additional crosslinkers. To elucidate the polymer assembly mechanism and identify the bioactive concentration threshold, agarose was introduced as a fourth component to construct A/MP@TA GHs. The results showed that increasing the agarose content progressively transformed the granular architecture into a sheet-like network, whereas A/MP@TA3, which represents the lowest agarose ratio that preserves the granular morphology, exhibited potent antibacterial and antioxidant activities, and enhanced fibroblast migration. In a bacteria-infected wound, A/MP@TA3 still markedly accelerated wound closure while promoting collagen deposition and angiogenesis. Mechanistically, sustained TA release reprogrammed the microenvironment by activating the KEAP1/Nrf2/HO-1 and suppressing NF-κB signaling, thereby driving macrophage polarization toward a pro-regenerative M2 phenotype. This work establishes a simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly platform for fabricating multifunctional hydrogel dressings and provides a biomaterial-based strategy for remodeling the immune microenvironment.
Chronic wounds remain a major clinical challenge due to persistent inflammation, excessive oxidative stress, and impaired tissue regeneration. Herein, we developed a multifunctional hydrogel dressing (GX/ML) by integrating a reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐responsive dynamic borate ester cross‐linking network with electrocatalytic MXene nanosheets and anti‐inflammatory luteolin. The hydrogel enables real‐time monitoring of wound inflammation through electrochemical sensing of H2O2 levels, while on‐demand drug release is triggered by either high ROS or near‐infrared irradiation. In vitro and in vivo results demonstrated exceptional ROS‐scavenging capability, efficient antibacterial activity (>96% against S. aureus and E. coli), and promotion of macrophage polarization toward the pro‐healing M2 phenotype. In a diabetic mouse wound model, the GX/ML hydrogel accelerated wound closure (98.1% healing rate by day 19), enhanced angiogenesis, collagen deposition, and re‐epithelialization, and modulated immune responses via cytokine signaling pathways (e.g., NF‐κB and NOD‐like receptor pathways). Transcriptomic analysis confirmed regulation of genes related to immune inflammation and tissue remodeling. This work provides a synergistic strategy through a smart hydrogel platform that integrates real‐time inflammatory monitoring with condition‐triggered drug release, offering a feedback‐responsive approach for chronic wound management.
Hua Wei, Hongyu Zhao, Xiao-Han Li et al.· Aggregate· 0 citations