Nanozyme-Engineered Hydrogels for Anti-Inflammation and Skin Regeneration

Nanozymes meet hydrogels: Fabrication, progressive applications, and perspectives

Nanozyme, a class of emerging enzyme mimics, is the nanomaterials with enzyme-mimicking activity, which has obtained significant and widespread applications in various fields. However, they still face many challenges in practical applications (e.g., instability and low biocompatibility in the physiological environments), which affect their widespread applications to a certain extent. Hydrogels with superior performances (e.g., the controllable degradability, good biocompatibility, hydrophilic properties, and adjustable physical properties) may provide a promising strategy to make up the existing deficiencies of nanozymes in practical applications. Thus, the sapiential combination of nanozymes with hydrogels endows nanozyme hydrogels with both characteristics of nanozymes and properties of hydrogels, making nanozyme hydrogels become novel multifunctional materials. In this review, we comprehensively summarizes the preparation, properties, and progressive applications of nanozyme hydrogels. First of all, the main design and preparation strategies of nanozyme hydrogels are considerately summarized. Then, the properties of different nanozyme hydrogels are introduced. In addition, sophisticated applications of nanozyme hydrogels in the fields of biosensing, biomedicine applications, and environmental are comprehensively summarized. Most importantly, future obstacles and chances in this emerging field are profoundly proposed. This review will provide a new horizon for the development and future applications of novel nanozyme hydrogels.

The application of tissue engineering strategies for uterine regeneration

Uterine injuries, particularly damages to endometrium, are usually associated with abnormal menstruation, recurrent miscarriage, pregnancy complications, and infertility. Tissue engineering using cell-based, biomolecule-based, or biomaterial and scaffold-based strategies has emerged as a novel and promising approach for uterine regeneration. Stem cells, biomolecules, and porous scaffolds used alone or, very often, used in combination as a more effective treatment means have shown great potential in promoting uterine regeneration. The reported preclinical studies have indicated that appropriate tissue engineering strategies could safely and effectively reconstruct not only endometrium but also partial or even the whole uterine structure. However, the progress in the uterine regeneration area is slow in comparison to that of regenerating many other body tissues and hence it still remains a great challenge to apply uterine tissue engineering for clinical applications. In this review, conventional treatments for uterine-related diseases are briefly reviewed and discussed first. Subsequently, tissue engineering strategies (cell-based, biomolecule-based, biomaterial and scaffold-based, or their combinations) for uterine repair in preclinical studies and clinical trials are presented and analyzed. Finally, the challenges and perspectives in uterine regeneration are pointed and discussed. Despite various limitations and obstacles, the tissue engineering approach is viable and holds high promise for uterine regeneration.

A self-powered casein hydrogel E-dressing with synergistic photothermal therapy, electrical stimulation, and antibacterial effects for chronic wound management

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have recently demonstrated great application potential for accelerating wound healing in the field of medical research due to their unique electrical stimulation effect. Among the various types of TENGs, solid-liquid TENGs have attracted much attention due to their significant advantages, such as high contact-separation efficiency and a wide range of liquid motion. Therefore, this study innovatively proposed a solid-liquid biphasic TENG electronic dressing constructed from a casein hydrogel enhanced by the metal-organic framework Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8). This hydrogel dressing comprised sodium caseinate (SC)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes-polydopamine@polydopamine (MWCNT@PDA)/polyacrylamide (PAM)/ZIF-8. It ingeniously integrates multiple functions such as photothermal, photodynamic antibacterial, and electrical stimulation therapies, thereby establishing a new multimodal synergistic treatment paradigm. Notably, the addition of ZIF-8 not only controlled photothermal release of antibacterial agents but also facilitates the development of a distinctive solid-liquid biphasic operational modality in TENG system, achieving a 131 V peak output voltage through significant enhancement of electrical performance parameters. In addition, the TENG-based system adopts a non-contact electrical stimulation method for wound treatment, fundamentally reducing the risk of infection caused by direct contact. Experiments using mouse fibroblasts revealed that the simultaneous real-time use of near-infrared light and TENG can significantly improve the cell migration process. Empirical studies on animals demonstrated that it could accelerate tissue regeneration and wound healing by increasing collagen deposition and angiogenesis. Based on these results, this study provides new perspectives for the developing intelligent biomedical composites for future wound management. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Chronic wounds have become a major threat to global medical and health fields due to pathogenic infections. Traditional wound dressings mostly focus on passive healing, which has limited effectiveness. To overcome these limitations, we developed an electronic dressing of a casein-based hydrogel TENG enhanced by a MOF. This electronic dressing combines photothermal, photodynamic antibacterial, and electrical stimulation functions and efficiently promotes wound healing through multifunctional synergy. This research provides a promising solution for diabetic wound care and a broader field of chronic wound treatment. It is a solid step in the scientific exploration of interdisciplinary integration, offering new ideas for making the wound treatment field more intelligent, efficient, and precise.

Investigation on the effects and mechanisms of novel peptide nanofiber gel to promote wound healing of deep second-degree burns in mice

The self-assembled peptide RADA16-I (RADARADARADARADA) has been widely used in biomaterials. However, studies on the practical application of self-assembled peptide hydrogels loaded with bioactive peptides are still insufficient. In this study, we successfully prepared the peptide nanofiber gel RGJ by incorporating the bioactive peptides A8SGLP-1 (G) and Jagged-1 (J) into RADA16-I (R) in specific ratios. The mechanical properties, secondary structure, and microstructure of RGJ were thoroughly characterized using a rheometer, circular dichroism (CD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that R and RGJ adopted stable β-folded structures at room temperature, and RGJ exhibited a nanofiber mesh structure, confirming its excellent physical properties. Cellular experiments demonstrated that RGJ significantly enhanced the proliferation and migration of HaCaT, L929, and HUVEC cells, with the most pronounced effect observed in HUVEC cells. In the 100 μg/mL RGJ-treated group, cell viability (OD value) reached 1.369, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (0.673) and the R-only group (0.848). The strongest pro-migratory effect was observed in HaCaT cells, with a scratch closure rate of 22.83 %. In vivo experiments showed that the deep second-degree burn wounds of mice in the RGJ gel-treated group healed rapidly by day 17, exhibiting 99.5 % wound closure, compared to 84.02 % in the R gel group, and 73.02 % and 70.97 % in the control and burn cream groups, respectively. Immunohistochemistry and ELISA results further confirmed that RGJ significantly reduced wound and systemic inflammatory responses while promoting the secretion of pro-angiogenic factors VEGF and CD31, revealing its potential mechanism for enhancing burn wound healing. Additionally, RGJ significantly reduced wound scar formation and increased skin collagen deposition, demonstrating a favorable biosafety profile compared to the control group, commercial burn ointment, and the R-only treatment group. In conclusion, the development of the peptide nanofiber gel RGJ holds great potential for wound management applications and lays a foundation for future related research.

Thermal-Sensitive Artificial Ionic Skin with Environmental Stability and Self-Healing Property

Wearable temperature-sensitive electronic skin enables robots to rapidly detect environmental changes and respond intelligently, thereby reducing temperature-related mechanical failures. Additionally, this temperature-sensitive skin can measure and record the temperature of external objects, broadening its potential applications in the medical field. In this study, we designed a thermally sensitive artificial ionic skin using ionic liquids (ILs) as solvents and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as thermally conductive fillers. The incorporation of ILs into the polymer network enhances thermal stability, while the CNTs establish dual thermal conduction pathways (CNTs-CNTs and CNTs-polymer chain segments), leading to rapid thermal response times of only 16 s. The initiation of IL dissociation at elevated temperatures boosts carrier density, resulting in a substantial improvement in thermal sensitivity (5%/°C). Furthermore, the skin displays remarkable self-healing properties (90%), thereby extending the lifespan of the skin in practical applications. This kind of skin can stably sense the wearer's body temperature and environmental temperature and provide an ideal temperature-sensitive and long-term stable new functional material for the development of human skin such as robots.

Advanced Hydrogel Systems for Local Anesthetic Delivery: Toward Prolonged and Targeted Pain Relief

Local anesthetics (LAs) have been indispensable in clinical pain management, yet their limitations, such as short duration of action and systemic toxicity, necessitate improved delivery strategies. Hydrogels, with their biocompatibility, tunable properties, and ability to modulate drug release, have been extensively explored as platforms for enhancing LA efficacy and safety. This narrative review explores the historical development of LAs, their physicochemical properties, and clinical applications, providing a foundation for understanding the integration of hydrogels in anesthetic delivery. Advances in thermoresponsive, stimuli-responsive, and multifunctional hydrogels have demonstrated significant potential in prolonging analgesia and reducing systemic exposure in preclinical studies, while early clinical findings highlight the feasibility of thermoresponsive hydrogel formulations. Despite these advancements, challenges such as burst release, mechanical instability, and regulatory considerations remain critical barriers to clinical translation. Emerging innovations, including nanocomposite hydrogels, biofunctionalized matrices, and smart materials, offer potential solutions to these limitations. Future research should focus on optimizing hydrogel formulations, expanding clinical validation, and integrating advanced fabrication technologies such as 3D printing and artificial intelligence-driven design to enhance personalized pain management. By bridging materials science and anesthetic pharmacology, this review provides a comprehensive perspective on current trends and future directions in hydrogel-based LA delivery systems.

Screening of an antimicrobial peptide-TWPAL and its application in hydrogels for wound healing

Open wounds are one of the concerns of modern medicine. Early on, before the wound has closed, bacteria can easily enter, leading to bacterial infections. Excipients with antimicrobial effects can greatly facilitate the wound healing process. In this work, we screened and synthesized the antimicrobial peptide Thr-Trp-Pro-Gla-Leu (TWPAL), which has good bacteriostatic effect as well as drug resistance. And by loading it into a hyaluronic acid/gelatin hydrogel, we developed an antimicrobial hydrogel (TWPAL-gel), and by analyzing the results of animal experiments, it was found that this treatment has obvious efficacy in the treatment of animal wound infections, which provides a strong experimental basis for the clinical treatment and an important reference value for the further research on the treatment of diseases. Therefore, a new antimicrobial peptide TWPAL and a hydrogel based on this peptide were developed in this study to provide a comfortable and sterile recovery environment for wound healing, which can be an ideal choice for the treatment of open wounds.

Acid-responsive CST@NPs enhanced diabetic wound healing through rescuing mitochondrial dysfunction

Diabetic ulcers (DUs) are persistent and challenging complications of diabetes. The consequences of DUs include a decline in functional status, increased risk of infection, hospitalization, and even death. Our study revealed a significant decrease in the levels of cortistatin (CST) in the skin tissue of patients with DUs and diabetic rats. This finding led us to hypothesize that the administration of exogenous CST is an effective strategy to promote wound healing in patients with DUs. We herein successfully prepared CST-loaded pDMA-pEPEMA nanoparticles (CST@NPs) designed to exhibit localized, acid-responsive behavior for enhanced wound healing. These CST@NPs were sensitive to acidic environments, triggering the rapid release of CST. In vitro experiments showed that CST@NPs effectively alleviated oxidative stress and reduced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Our findings further demonstrated that CST@NPs accelerated re-epithelialization of the wound, enhanced collagen deposition, and stimulated angiogenesis, while alleviating the local inflammatory response. Both in vivo and in vitro results indicate that CST@NPs possess precise and rapid response capabilities in acidic environments, ensuring effective CST release to promote diabetic wound healing. In summary, this acid-responsive nanoparticle system presents a highly efficient therapeutic strategy for the treatment of chronic diabetic wounds.

Rationalizing hydrogel-integrated peroxidase-mimicking nanozymes for combating drug-resistant bacteria and colorimetric sensing

Due to the easy preparation, high stability and environmental friendliness, nanozymes are frequently used as promising substitutes to natural enzymes. However, the efficacy of nanozymes in biomedicine aspects is often hampered by their potential biotoxicity and limited bioavailability, which prompted structure adaption or carrier design to maximize nanozymes performance. Despite considerable efforts on carriers to deliver nanozymes efficiently, the systematic studies on enzyme-like activities of nanozymes related to platforms of nanozyme@carrier are sparse. Here, five types of hydrogel carriers composed by sodium alginate (SA), chitosan, gelatin, gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), and polyacrylamide (PAM) were formed by distinct mode of polymerization to optimize the suitable carrier for peroxidase (POD)-mimic nanozyme consisted of hemin and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Among these proposed carriers, SA hydrogel emerged as the most effective carrier due to its compatible crosslinking mechanism and desirable stability for nanozyme functioning. By incorporating the POD-mimic nanozyme into the SA hydrogel, the catalytic performance of the nanozyme was effectively preserved, leading to improved antibacterial effects and superior sensing ability towards the colorimetric measurement of H2O2. Based on the rationalization of hydrogel carriers, the proposed study not only helped to understand the structure-function relationship between nanozyme and carriers, but provided an integrated nanoplatform of POD-mimic nanozyme with environmental disinfection as well as biomedical applications.

Bioactive Deep Eutectic Solvent-Involved Sprayable Versatile Hydrogel for Monkeypox Virus Lesions Treatment

To address the issues of infectious virus, bacterial secondary infections, skin pigmentation, and scarring caused by monkeypox virus (MPXV), a sprayable hydrogel with versatile functions was developed with comprehensive properties. Based on current research, the bioactive deep eutectic solvent (DES) of rosmarinic acid-proanthocyanidin-glycol (RPG) was designed and synthesized as active agent, and molecular docking was applied to discover its binding to MPXV proteins through H-bonds and van der Waals interactions, and the docking results show the binding energies between RA, PC, Gly and MPXV proteins are -58.7188, -50.2311, and -18.4755 kcal/mol, respectively. Additionally, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), borate, and xylitol (Xyl) were integrated with RPG to prepare the PB-RPG-Xyl hydrogel, which was characterized by popular ways. The pH-responsive properties of the hydrogel accelerated the release of RPG under acidic conditions, resulting in an increased cumulative release percentage of 84.83% at pH 5.5 at 210 min. Besides that, it was proved to have the expected sprayability, self-healing, adhesion, and shape-adaptability. The results of molecular dynamic simulation were meaningful to understanding its formation and self-healing mechanisms. Furthermore, the hydrogel shows ideal degradability, removability, and biocompatibility. Lastly, its multiple functions were systematically explored, including UV-blocking, blood clotting, cooling, antioxidant, antibacterial, and virus inhibition properties. The developed sprayable PB-RPG-Xyl hydrogel represents the first promising dressing based on natural bioactive DES for MPXV lesions management, which not only expands the application of green solvents in health care but also provides a convenient and effective treatment process for MPXV infection in the face of difficult skin lesions and complex treatment needs.

PI3K/Akt pathway-mediated enhancement of bone and vascular regeneration by gelatin/hyaluronic acid/exosome composite scaffold in bone tissue engineering

Tissue engineering (TE) is commonly suggested as a promising remedy for the worldwide shortage of organ donors required for transplantation. Scholars are investigating organic and biocompatible materials as the principal options for regeneration to replicate the natural extracellular matrix. Hydrogels exhibit swift gel formation and outstanding biocompatibility, thus presenting considerable promise in tissue regeneration. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of a novel biomaterial complex, comprising gelatin (Gel), hyaluronic acid (HA) and exosomes (Exo), in promoting bone regeneration and elucidate its underlying molecular mechanism. The experimental results demonstrated that the Gel/HA/Exo complex could significantly enhance the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts, as well as the deposition and mineralization of bone matrix. Further mechanistic studies demonstrated that TGF-β in exosomes enhanced the biological activity of osteoblasts by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway, thus promoting the fracture healing process. The results of in vivo experiments indicated that the application of Gel/HA/Exo complexes significantly accelerated the fracture healing rate and improved the quality of healing, exhibiting good biocompatibility and controlled degradation properties. Consequently, the present study concluded that the Gel/HA/Exo complex not only has potential clinical applications, but also provides an important theoretical and experimental basis for the development of novel bone regeneration therapeutic strategies.

A Microenvironment-Responsive Graphdiyne-Iron Nanozyme Hydrogel with Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Effect for Periodontitis Treatment

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by dental plaque, which leads to tooth loosening and shifting or even tooth loss. Current treatments, including mechanical debridement and antibiotics, often fail to eradicate recalcitrant biofilms and mitigate excessive inflammation. Moreover, these interventions can disrupt the oral microbiome, potentially compromising long-term treatment outcomes. To address these limitations, an injectable nanoenzyme hydrogel composed of a dopamine (DA)-modified hyaluronic acid (HA) scaffold and a graphdiyne-iron (GDY-Fe) complex, named GDY-Fe@HA-DA, exhibits excellent tissue adhesion, self-healing, antibacterial properties, and biocompatibility. Under near-infrared laser irradiation, GDY-Fe@HA-DA effectively eradicates a variety of pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Porphyromonas gingivalis, through a synergistic combination of chemodynamical and photothermal therapies. The hydrogel's efficacy is further validated in both bacterial-infected skin wounds and rat periodontitis models. It effectively alleviates the inflammatory environment and promotes wound healing and periodontal tissue recovery. This findings highlight the potential of GDY-Fe@HA-DA as a promising therapeutic material for periodontitis and other tissue injuries.

Dynamic polysaccharide/platelet-rich plasma hydrogels with synergistic antibacterial activities for accelerating infected wound healing

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been recognized as an effective therapy in regenerative medicine and surgery, which can reduce the risk of antibiotic abuse and promote the healing of infected wounds. Recent advances in PRP-based treatments have focused on the controlled release of growth factors in PRP with biocompatible hydrogels and antimicrobial promotion by introducing hydrogel components or antibiotics, while the inherent antimicrobial activity of PRP is mostly neglected or sacrificed. Here, we demonstrate the combination of an antimicrobial polysaccharide, carboxymethyl chitosan, and PRP to construct an antimicrobial hydrogel via dynamic bonding with oxidized chondroitin sulfate. Significant inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (95 % of inhibition rate) are achieved through the synergistic contributions of the polysaccharide and PRP. Additionally, the resulting hydrogel promotes the migration of NIH-3T3 fibroblasts and collagen deposition by approximately 1.7 and 1.8 times, respectively, thereby accelerating the healing process of infected wounds. This work may bring new perspectives for potent applications of PRP-based hydrogel dressings for antibiotic-free management of infected wounds.

Adaptive covalently assembled thymopentin/hyaluronic acid based anti-inflammatory drug carrier with injectability and controlled release

Developing bioactive delivery carriers with anti-inflammatory functions, long-term administration, and controlled release of multiple drugs is highly desirable owing to disease persistence over an extended period. In this study, a dynamically induced covalent assembly approach was used to fabricate thymopentin (TP5)-based carrier particles (TGCP) with biocompatibility and autofluorescence. The size and dispersibility of TGCP can be modulated by non-covalent interactions with hyaluronic acid (HA), endowing the system with excellent injectability and synergistic anti-inflammatory activity. Interestingly, the carrier can load a wide range of guest molecules with varying solubilities and achieve controlled gradient release in pathological and physiological environments. In addition, traditional Chinese-medicine-loaded TGCP/HA can effectively reduce the level of the inflammatory factor IL-6, indicating its potential anti-inflammatory properties. The TP5/HA-based material possesses excellent carrier properties and immunoreactivity, making it attractive for reducing inflammation at disease sites and long-term drug delivery in various chronic diseases.

High Fe-Loading Single-Atom Catalyst Boosts ROS Production by Density Effect for Efficient Antibacterial Therapy

The current single-atom catalysts (SACs) for medicine still suffer from the limited active site density. Here, we develop a synthetic method capable of increasing both the metal loading and mass-specific activity of SACs by exchanging zinc with iron. The constructed iron SACs (h3-FNC) with a high metal loading of 6.27 wt% and an optimized adjacent Fe distance of ~ 4 Å exhibit excellent oxidase-like catalytic performance without significant activity decay after being stored for six months and promising antibacterial effects. Attractively, a "density effect" has been found at a high-enough metal doping amount, at which individual active sites become close enough to interact with each other and alter the electronic structure, resulting in significantly boosted intrinsic activity of single-atomic iron sites in h3-FNCs by 2.3 times compared to low- and medium-loading SACs. Consequently, the overall catalytic activity of h3-FNC is highly improved, with mass activity and metal mass-specific activity that are, respectively, 66 and 315 times higher than those of commercial Pt/C. In addition, h3-FNCs demonstrate efficiently enhanced capability in catalyzing oxygen reduction into superoxide anion (O2·-) and glutathione (GSH) depletion. Both in vitro and in vivo assays demonstrate the superior antibacterial efficacy of h3-FNCs in promoting wound healing. This work presents an intriguing activity-enhancement effect in catalysts and exhibits impressive therapeutic efficacy in combating bacterial infections.

Multifunctional Molybdenum-Based Nanoclusters Engineered Gelatin Methacryloyl as In Situ Photo-Cross-Linkable Hybrid Hydrogel Dressings for Enhanced Wound Healing

Skin injuries and wounds present significant clinical challenges, necessitating the development of advanced wound dressings for efficient wound healing and tissue regeneration. In this context, the advancement of hydrogels capable of counteracting the adverse effects arising from undesirable reactive oxygen species (ROS) is of significant importance. This study introduces a hybrid hydrogel with rapid photocuring and excellent conformability, tailored to ameliorate the hostile microenvironment of damaged skin tissues. The hybrid hydrogel, composed of photoresponsive Gelatin Methacryloyl (GelMA) and Molybdenum-based nanoclusters (MNC), exhibits physicochemical characteristics conductive to skin regeneration. In vitro studies demonstrated the cytocompatibility and ROS-responsive behavior of the MNC/GelMA hybrid hydrogels, confirming their ability to promote human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) functions. The incorporation of MNC into GelMA not only enhances HDF adhesion, proliferation, and migration but also shields against oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Notably, in vivo evaluation in murine full-thickness skin defects revealed that the application of hybrid hydrogel dressings led to reduced inflammation, accelerated wound closure, and enhanced collagen deposition in comparison to control groups. Significantly, this study introduced a convenient approach to develop in situ ROS-scavenging hydrogel dressings to accelerate the wound healing process without the need for exogenous cytokines or medications. We consider that the nanoengineering approach proposed herein offers potential possibilities for the development of therapeutic hydrogel dressings addressing various skin-related conditions.

Enhancing regenerative medicine with self-healing hydrogels: A solution for tissue repair and advanced cyborganic healthcare devices

Considering the global burden related to tissue and organ injuries or failures, self-healing hydrogels may be an attractive therapeutic alternative for the future. Self-healing hydrogels are highly hydrated 3D structures with the ability to self-heal after breaking, this property is attributable to a variety of dynamic non-covalent and covalent bonds that are able to re-linking within the matrix. Self-healing ability specially benefits minimal invasive medical treatments with cell-delivery support. Moreover, those tissue-engineered self-healing hydrogels network have demonstrated effectiveness for myriad purposes; for instance, they could act as delivery-platforms for different cargos (drugs, growth factors, cells, among others) in tissues such as bone, cartilage, nerve or skin. Besides, self-healing hydrogels have currently found their way into new and novel applications; for example, with the development of the self-healing adhesive hydrogels, by merely aiding surgical closing processes and by providing biomaterial-tissue adhesion. Furthermore, conductive hydrogels permit the stimuli and monitoring of natural electrical signals, which facilitated a better fitting of hydrogels in native tissue or the diagnosis of various health diseases. Lastly, self-healing hydrogels could be part of cyborganics - a merge between biology and machinery - which can pave the way to a finer healthcare devices for diagnostics and precision therapies.

Mated-Atom Nanozymes with Efficient Assisted NAD+ Replenishment for Skin Regeneration

Excessive accumulation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) within biological organisms is closely associated with many diseases. It remains a challenge to efficiently convert superfluous and detrimental NADH to NAD+. NADH oxidase (NOX) is a crucial oxidoreductase that catalyzes the oxidation of NADH to NAD+. Herein, M1M2 (Mi=V/Mn/Fe/Co/Cu/Mo/Rh/Ru/Pd, i = 1 or 2) mated-atom nanozymes (MANs) are designed by mimicking natural enzymes with polymetallic active centers. Excitingly, RhCo MAN possesses excellent and sustainable NOX-like activity, with Km-NADH (16.11 μM) being lower than that of NOX-mimics reported so far. Thus, RhCo MAN can significantly promote the regeneration of NAD+ and regulate macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype through down-regulation of TLR4 expression, which may help to recover skin regeneration. However, RhRu MAN with peroxidase-like activity and RhMn MAN with superoxide dismutase-like activity exhibit little modulating effects on eczema. This work provides a new strategy to inhibit skin inflammation and promote skin regeneration.

Electrospun organic/inorganic hybrid nanofibers for accelerating wound healing: a review

Electrospun nanofiber membranes hold great promise as scaffolds for tissue reconstruction, mirroring the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) in their structure. However, their limited bioactive functions have hindered their effectiveness in fostering wound healing. Inorganic nanoparticles possess commendable biocompatibility, which can expedite wound healing; nevertheless, deploying them in the particle form presents challenges associated with removal or collection. To capitalize on the strengths of both components, electrospun organic/inorganic hybrid nanofibers (HNFs) have emerged as a groundbreaking solution for accelerating wound healing and maintaining stability throughout the healing process. In this review, we provide an overview of recent advancements in the utilization of HNFs for wound treatment. The review begins by elucidating various fabrication methods for hybrid nanofibers, encompassing direct electrospinning, coaxial electrospinning, and electrospinning with subsequent loading. These techniques facilitate the construction of micro-nano structures and the controlled release of inorganic ions. Subsequently, we delve into the manifold applications of HNFs in promoting the wound regeneration process. These applications encompass hemostasis, antibacterial properties, anti-inflammatory effects, stimulation of cell proliferation, and facilitation of angiogenesis. Finally, we offer insights into the prospective trends in the utilization of hybrid nanofiber-based wound dressings, charting the path forward in this dynamic field of research.

Surface-Engineered Titanium with Nanoceria to Enhance Soft Tissue Integration Via Reactive Oxygen Species Modulation and Nanotopographical Sensing

The design of implantable biomaterials involves precise tuning of surface features because the early cellular fate on such engineered surfaces is highly influenced by many physicochemical factors [roughness, hydrophilicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsiveness, etc.]. Herein, to enhance soft tissue integration for successful implantation, Ti substrates decorated with uniform layers of nanoceria (Ce), called Ti@Ce, were optimally developed by a simple and cost-effective in situ immersion coating technique. The characterization of Ti@Ce shows a uniform Ce distribution with enhanced roughness (∼3-fold increase) and hydrophilicity (∼4-fold increase) and adopted ROS-scavenging capacity by nanoceria coating. When human gingival fibroblasts were seeded on Ti@Ce under oxidative stress conditions, Ti@Ce supported cellular adhesion, spreading, and survivability by its cellular ROS-scavenging capacity. Mechanistically, the unique nanocoating resulted in higher expression of amphiphysin (a nanotopology sensor), paxillin (a focal adhesion protein), and cell adhesive proteins (collagen-1 and fibronectin). Ti@Ce also led to global chromatin condensation by decreasing histone 3 acetylation as an early differentiation feature. Transcriptome analysis by RNA sequencing confirmed the chromatin remodeling, antiapoptosis, antioxidant, cell adhesion, and TGF-β signaling-related gene signatures in Ti@Ce. As key fibroblast transcription (co)factors, Ti@Ce promotes serum response factor and MRTF-α nucleus localization. Considering all of this, it is proposed that the surface engineering approach using Ce could improve the biological properties of Ti implants, supporting their functioning at soft tissue interfaces and utilization as a bioactive implant for clinical conditions such as peri-implantitis.