Temperature-sensitive hydrogel dressing loaded with nicotinamide mononucleotide accelerating wound healing in diabetic mice
Yue Liang, Min Li, Yuan Tang, Jinlong Yang, Jing Wang, Yuqi Zhu, Huitong Liang, Qinru Lin, Yipen Cheng, Xinyi Yang, Huanzhang Zhu
Abstract
Diabetic foot ulcers, a common complication of diabetes mellitus, significantly impact patients' quality of life and impose a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems. However, the currently used treatments are associated with various challenges and the traditionally used dressings lack functional efficacy. Oxidative stress is believed to play a vital role in diabetic wound healing. Therefore, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), which is known for its antioxidant properties, offers the potential to accelerate the wound-healing process. Here, a thermosensitive composite hydrogel was synthesized by mixing Pluronic F127 and Pluronic F68 with an antibacterial component chitosan. The hydrogel exhibited favorable properties including a stable structure, appropriate solid-liquid phase change, loose porosity, slow-release, antibacterial properties, and biocompatibility. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the NMN-loaded temperature-sensitive hydrogel effectively promoted cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis and exhibited antioxidant activity. In diabetic thickness skin defect models, NMN-loaded temperature-sensitive hydrogel treatment significantly accelerated wound healing by promoting collagen synthesis, angiogenesis, and increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor- β1. In summary, NMN-loaded temperature-sensitive hydrogel can promote diabetic wound healing in a simple, economical, effective, and safe manner, with potential application in treating diabetic wounds.