Cerium oxide nanoparticle conjugation to microRNA-146a mechanism of correction for impaired diabetic wound healing

Targeting Inflammation and Oxidative Stress to Improve Outcomes in a TNBS Murine Crohn's Colitis Model

Inflammation and oxidative stress are implicated in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease. Cerium oxide nanoparticle (CNP) conjugated to microRNA 146a (miR146a) (CNP-miR146a) is a novel compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. We hypothesized that local administration of CNP-miR146a would improve colitis in a 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) mouse model for Crohn's disease by decreasing colonic inflammation. Balb/c mice were instilled with TNBS enemas to induce colitis. Two days later, the mice received cellulose gel enema, cellulose gel with CNP-miR146a enema, or no treatment. Control mice received initial enemas of 50% ethanol and PBS enemas on day two. The mice were monitored daily for weight loss and clinical disease activity. The mice were euthanized on days two or five to evaluate their miR146a expression, inflammation on histology, and colonic IL-6 and TNF gene expressions and protein concentrations. CNP-miR146a enema successfully increased colonic miR146a expression at 12 h following delivery. At the end of five days from TNBS instillation, the mice treated with CNP-miR146a demonstrated reduced weight loss, improved inflammation scores on histology, and reduced gene expressions and protein concentrations of IL-6 and TNF. The local delivery of CNP-miR146a in a TNBS mouse model of acute Crohn's colitis dramatically decreased inflammatory signaling, resulting in improved clinical disease.

Narrative review on nanoparticles based on current evidence: therapeutic agents for diabetic foot infection

Diabetes's effects on wound healing present a major treatment challenge and increase the risk of amputation. When traditional therapies fail, new approaches must be investigated. With their submicron size and improved cellular internalisation, nanoparticles present a viable way to improve diabetic wound healing. They are attractive options because of their innate antibacterial qualities, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Nanoparticles loaded with organic or inorganic compounds, or embedded in biomimetic matrices such as hydrogels, chitosan, and hyaluronic acid, exhibit excellent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. Drug delivery systems (DDSs)-more precisely, nanodrug delivery systems (NDDSs)-use the advantages of nanotechnology to get around some of the drawbacks of traditional DDSs. Recent developments show how expertly designed nanocarriers can carry a variety of chemicals, transforming the treatment of diabetic wounds. Biomaterials that deliver customised medications to the wound microenvironment demonstrate potential. Delivery techniques for nanomedicines become more potent than ever, overcoming conventional constraints. Therapeutics for diabetes-induced non-healing wounds are entering a revolutionary era thanks to precisely calibrated nanocarriers that effectively distribute chemicals. This review highlights the therapeutic potential of nanoparticles and outlines the multifunctional nanoparticles of the future that will be used for complete wound healing in diabetics. The investigation of novel nanodrug delivery systems has the potential to revolutionise diabetic wound therapy and provide hope for more efficient and focused therapeutic approaches.

Classification and application of metal-based nanoantioxidants in medicine and healthcare

Antioxidants play an important role in the prevention of oxidative stress and have been widely used in medicine and healthcare. However, natural antioxidants have several limitations such as low stability, difficult long-term storage, and high cost of large-scale production. Along with significant advances in nanotechnology, nanomaterials have emerged as a promising solution to improve the limitations of natural antioxidants because of their high stability, easy storage, time effectiveness, and low cost. Among various types of nanomaterials exhibiting antioxidant activity, metal-based nanoantioxidants show excellent reactivity because of the presence of an unpaired electron in their atomic structure. In this review, we summarize some novel metal-based nanoantioxidants and classify them into two main categories, namely chain-breaking and preventive antioxidant nanomaterials. In addition, the applications of antioxidant nanomaterials in medicine and healthcare are also discussed. This review provides a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of metal-based nanoantioxidants and a guideline for using these nanomaterials in medicine and healthcare.

CeO2 Nanoparticles to Promote Wound Healing: A Systematic Review

Cerium (Ce) is a hot topic in the field of materials research due to its electronic layer structure and the unique antioxidant abilities of its oxide (CeO2 ). Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) demonstrate their potential as an antioxidant and antibacterial agent. Current research focuses on whether they can be used to promote wound healing and in what manner. This article provides a systematic review of the various forms of CeO2 NPs that are used in wound-healing materials over the past decade, as well as the effectiveness demonstrated by in vivo and in vitro experiments, with a focus on the relationship between concentration and effectiveness. CeO2 NPs are expected to become effective ingredients in dressings that require antibacterial, antioxidant, and wound healing promoting properties. This article serves as a reference for further research and clinical applications of nano-sized CeO2 in wound healing.

MicroRNA-409-3p/BTG2 signaling axis improves impaired angiogenesis and wound healing in obese mice

Wound healing is facilitated by neoangiogenesis, a complex process that is essential to tissue repair in response to injury. MicroRNAs are small, noncoding RNAs that can regulate the wound healing process including stimulation of impaired angiogenesis that is associated with type-2 diabetes (T2D). Expression of miR-409-3p was significantly increased in the nonhealing skin wounds of patients with T2D compared to the non-wounded normal skin, and in the skin of a murine model with T2D. In response to high glucose, neutralization of miR-409-3p markedly improved EC growth and migration in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), promoted wound closure and angiogenesis as measured by increased CD31 in human skin organoids, while overexpression attenuated EC angiogenic responses. Bulk mRNA-Seq transcriptomic profiling revealed BTG2 as a target of miR-409-3p, where overexpression of miR-409-3p significantly decreased BTG2 mRNA and protein expression. A 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) luciferase assay of BTG2 revealed decreased luciferase activity with overexpression of miR-409-3p, while inhibition had opposite effects. Mechanistically, in response to high glucose, miR-409-3p deficiency in ECs resulted in increased mTOR phosphorylation, meanwhile BTG-anti-proliferation factor 2 (BTG2) silencing significantly decreased mTOR phosphorylation. Endothelial-specific and tamoxifen-inducible miR-409-3p knockout mice (MiR-409IndECKO ) with hyperglycemia that underwent dorsal skin wounding showed significant improvement of wound closure, increased blood flow, granulation tissue thickness (GTT), and CD31 that correlated with increased BTG2 expression. Taken together, our results show that miR-409-3p is a critical mediator of impaired angiogenesis in diabetic skin wound healing.

Investigating temperature variability on antioxidative behavior of synthesized cerium oxide nanoparticle for potential biomedical application

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNP) have garnered significant attention due to their versatile redox properties and wound-healing applications. The antioxidative nature of CNP is due to its ability to be oxidized and reduced, followed by the capture or release of oxygen which is used for scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). Herein, CNP is produced through a wet chemistry approach and its tunable redox property is tested across a range of temperatures. The synthesized CNP was observed to reveal the signature peak at 245 nm indicating a high Ce+3/Ce+4 ratio. Towards evaluating the redox antioxidative behavior, CNPs were subjected to a comprehensive analysis for superoxide dismutase mimetic analysis with riboflavin-mediated nitroblue tetrazolium scavenging assay. The results demonstrated that the redox activity of cerium oxide nanoparticles was strongly influenced by the different temperature ranges. Superoxide dismutase mimetic activity was observed to be reduced with a decrease in temperature as we moved from 4°C (80% activity) to -80°C (47% activity) at 1 mM conc of CNP. Similarly, the SOD mimetic activity increased with an increase in temperature from 40°C (72% activity) to 70°C (94% activity). Further, CNP was found to inhibit E. coli (gram+ve) and Enterobacter (gram-ve) beyond 70% simultaneously at 1 mM conc, indicating its potential application as a remarkable antimicrobial agent. CNP also inhibited the alpha-amylase activity up to the 60% at 1 mM conc suggesting its potential application in antidiabetic wound healing therapy. Overall, the CNP finds its application in mitigating the oxidative stress-related disorder exhibited by its high antioxidative, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic behavior.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging biomaterials for anti-inflammatory diseases: from mechanism to therapy

Inflammation is a fundamental defensive response to harmful stimuli, but the overactivation of inflammatory responses is associated with most human diseases. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a class of chemicals that are generated after the incomplete reduction of molecular oxygen. At moderate levels, ROS function as critical signaling molecules in the modulation of various physiological functions, including inflammatory responses. However, at excessive levels, ROS exert toxic effects and directly oxidize biological macromolecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids and lipids, further exacerbating the development of inflammatory responses and causing various inflammatory diseases. Therefore, designing and manufacturing biomaterials that scavenge ROS has emerged an important approach for restoring ROS homeostasis, limiting inflammatory responses and protecting the host against damage. This review systematically outlines the dynamic balance of ROS production and clearance under physiological conditions. We focus on the mechanisms by which ROS regulate cell signaling proteins and how these cell signaling proteins further affect inflammation. Furthermore, we discuss the use of potential and currently available-biomaterials that scavenge ROS, including agents that were engineered to reduce ROS levels by blocking ROS generation, directly chemically reacting with ROS, or catalytically accelerating ROS clearance, in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Finally, we evaluate the challenges and prospects for the controlled production and material design of ROS scavenging biomaterials.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles in diabetic foot ulcer management: Advances, limitations, and future directions

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the most serious complications of diabetes, potentially resulting in wound infection and amputation under severe circumstances. Oxidative stress and dysbiosis are the primary factors that delay wound healing, posing challenges to effective treatment. Unfortunately, conventional approaches in these aspects have proven satisfactory in achieving curative outcomes. Recent research has increasingly focused on using nanoparticles, leveraging their potential in wound dressing and medication delivery. Their unique physical properties further enhance their therapeutic effectiveness. Among these nanoparticles, cerium oxide nanoparticles (CONPs) have garnered attention due to their notable beneficial effects on oxidative stress and microbial abundance, thus representing a promising therapeutic avenue for DFU. This review comprehensively assesses recent studies on CONPs in treating DFU. Furthermore, we elaborate on the wound healing process, ceria synthesis, and incorporating CONPs with other materials. Crucially, a thorough evaluation of CONPs' toxicity as a novel metallic nanomaterial for therapeutic use must precede their formal clinical application. Additionally, we identify the current challenges CONPs encounter and propose future directions for their development.

Role of exosome-derived miRNAs in diabetic wound angiogenesis

Chronic wounds with high disability are among the most common and serious complications of diabetes. Angiogenesis dysfunction impair wound healing in patients with diabetes. Compared with traditional therapies that can only provide symptomatic treatment, stem cells-owing to their powerful paracrine properties, can alleviate the pathogenesis of chronic diabetic wounds and even cure them. Exosome-derived microRNAs (miRNAs), important components of stem cell paracrine signaling, have been reported for therapeutic use in various disease models, including diabetic wounds. Exosome-derived miRNAs have been widely reported to be involved in regulating vascular function and have promising applications in the repair and regeneration of skin wounds. Therefore, this article aims to review the current status of the pathophysiology of exosome-derived miRNAs in the diabetes-induced impairment of wound healing, along with current knowledge of the underlying mechanisms, emphasizing the regulatory mechanism of angiogenesis, we hope to document the emerging theoretical basis for improving wound repair by restoring angiogenesis in diabetes.

The capacity of exosomes derived from adipose-derived stem cells to enhance wound healing in diabetes

The slow healing and nonhealing of diabetic wounds have long posed challenges for clinical practitioners. In the presence of elevated glucose levels, the body's regulatory mechanisms undergo alterations that impede normal wound healing processes, including cell proliferation, cytokine release, and growth factor activity. Consequently, the advancement of stem cell technology has sparked growing interest in utilizing stem cells and their derivatives as potential therapeutic agents to enhance diabetic wound healing. This paper aims to provide an academic review of the therapeutic effects of adipose-derived stem cell-EXOs (ADSC-EXOs) in diabetic wound healing. As a cell-free therapy, exosomes (EXOs) possess a multitude of proteins and growth factors that have been shown to be advantageous in promoting wound healing and mitigating the potential risks associated with stem cell therapy. By examining the current knowledge on ADSC-EXOs, this review seeks to offer insights and guidance for the potential application of EXOs in the treatment of diabetic wounds.

Wound healing strategies based on nanoparticles incorporated in hydrogel wound patches

The intricate, tightly controlled mechanism of wound healing that is a vital physiological mechanism is essential to maintaining the skin's natural barrier function. Numerous studies have focused on wound healing as it is a massive burden on the healthcare system. Wound repair is a complicated process with various cell types and microenvironment conditions. In wound healing studies, novel therapeutic approaches have been proposed to deliver an effective treatment. Nanoparticle-based materials are preferred due to their antibacterial activity, biocompatibility, and increased mechanical strength in wound healing. They can be divided into six main groups: metal NPs, ceramic NPs, polymer NPs, self-assembled NPs, composite NPs, and nanoparticle-loaded hydrogels. Each group shows several advantages and disadvantages, and which material will be used depends on the type, depth, and area of the wound. Better wound care/healing techniques are now possible, thanks to the development of wound healing strategies based on these materials, which mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) microenvironment of the wound. Bearing this in mind, here we reviewed current studies on which NPs have been used in wound healing and how this strategy has become a key biotechnological procedure to treat skin infections and wounds.

A Brief Review on Cerium Oxide (CeO2NPs)-Based Scaffolds: Recent Advances in Wound Healing Applications

The process of wound healing is complex and involves the interaction of multiple cells, each with a distinct role in the inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases. Chronic, nonhealing wounds may result from reduced fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis, and cellular immunity, often associated with diabetes, hypertension, vascular deficits, immunological inadequacies, and chronic renal disease. Various strategies and methodologies have been explored to develop nanomaterials for wound-healing treatment. Several nanoparticles such as gold, silver, cerium oxide and zinc possess antibacterial properties, stability, and a high surface area that promotes efficient wound healing. In this review article, we investigate the effectiveness of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂NPs) in wound healing-particularly the effects of reducing inflammation, enhancing hemostasis and proliferation, and scavenging reactive oxygen species. The mechanism enables CeO₂NPs to reduce inflammation, modulate the immunological system, and promote angiogenesis and tissue regeneration. In addition, we investigate the efficacy of cerium oxide-based scaffolds in various wound-healing applications for creating a favorable wound-healing environment. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂NPs) exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative characteristics, enabling them to be ideal wound healing material. Investigations have shown that CeO₂NPs can stimulate wound closure, tissue regeneration, and scar reduction. CeO₂NPs may also reduce bacterial infections and boost wound-site immunity. However, additional study is needed to determine the safety and efficacy of CeO₂NPs in wound healing and their long-term impacts on human health and the environment. The review reveals that CeO₂NPs have promising wound-healing properties, but further study is needed to understand their mechanisms of action and ensure their safety and efficacy.

Mechanisms of Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways in diabetic wound and potential treatment strategies

The issue of delayed wound healing or nonhealing in diabetic patients presents a challenge for modern medicine. A number of attempts have been made to understand the mechanisms behind diabetic wound. In a hyperglycemic environment, increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) disturb the balance between oxidation and antioxidant, causing the wound environment to deteriorate. It has been established that the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways play an important role in regulating inflammation and oxidative stress. Several potential treatment strategies involving Nrf2 and/or NF-κB pathways have been explored in previous studies. Hence, we analyzed mechanisms and changes in Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways in response to oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetic environment. Additionally, we reviewed potential treatment strategies from the past five years for diabetic wound by Nrf2 and/or NF-κB pathways, including receptor agonists, vitamins, hormones, exosomes, drugs, plants, and biomaterials. It may be useful to develop drugs to promote diabetic wound healing.

MicroRNA-146a Improved Acute Lung Injury Induced by hepatic Ischemia-reperfusion Injury by Inhibiting PRDX1

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by high incidence and poor prognosis. The regulatory role of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) in HIRI has been reported, but if miR-146a could affect the progression of HIRI-induced ALI has not been reported. The mice HIRI model was established by ligating left hepatic portal vein and hepatic artery for 60 minutes and then treating with reperfusion for 4 hours. Hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR) was performed to establish cell model. The binding site between miR-146a and Peroxidase 1 (PRDX1) was predicted and validated. The levels of inflammation factors and redox markers were detected with commercial kits. Significant lower expression of miR-146a and higher expression of PRDX1 in HIRI animal model were observed. miR-146a inhibited the liver injury after HIRI induction through targeting PRDX1. miR-146a inhibited the lung injury caused by HIRI via regulating PRDX1. The inhibition of cell apoptosis and inflammation factors by miR-146a were reversed by pcDNA-PRDX1. This research demonstrated that miR-146a improved ALI caused by HIRI by inhibiting apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative condition through targeting PRDX1. This study might provide a novel thought for the prevention and treatment of ALI caused by HIRI by regulating miR-146a/PRDX1 axis.

Recent Advances in Nano-Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Diabetic Wound Healing

Diabetes mellitus (DM) induced wound healing impairment remains a serious health problem and burden on the clinical obligation for high amputation rates. Based on the features of wound microenvironment, biomaterials loading specific drugs can benefit diabetic wound treatment. Drug delivery systems (DDSs) can carry diverse functional substances to the wound site. Nano-drug delivery systems (NDDSs), benefiting from their features related to nano size, overcome limitations of conventional DDSs application and are considered as a developing process in the wound treatment field. Recently, a number of finely designed nanocarriers efficiently loading various substances (bioactive and non-bioactive factors) have emerged to circumvent constraints faced by traditional DDSs. This review describes various recent advances of nano-drug delivery systems involved in mitigating diabetes mellitus-based non-healing wounds.

Association of MicroRNA-146a with Type 1 and 2 Diabetes and their Related Complications

Most medical investigations have found a reduced blood level of miR-146a in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients, suggesting an important role for miR-146a (microRNA-146a) in the etiology of diabetes mellitus (DM) and its consequences. Furthermore, injection of miR-146a mimic has been confirmed to alleviate diabetes mellitus in diabetic animal models. In this line, deregulation of miR-146a expression has been linked to the progression of nephropathy, neuropathy, wound healing, olfactory dysfunction, cardiovascular disorders, and retinopathy in diabetic patients. In this review, besides a comprehensive review of the function of miR-146a in DM, we discussed new findings on type 1 (T1MD) and type 2 (T2DM) diabetes mellitus, highlighting the discrepancies between clinical and preclinical investigations and elucidating the biological pathways regulated through miR-146a in DM-affected tissues.

Effects of microRNAs on angiogenesis in diabetic wounds

Diabetes mellitus is a morbid condition affecting a growing number of the world population, and approximately one third of diabetic patients are afflicted with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), which are chronic non-healing wounds that frequently progress to require amputation. The treatments currently used for DFU focus on reducing pressure on the wound, staving off infection, and maintaining a moist environment, but the impaired wound healing that occurs in diabetes is a constant obstacle that must be faced. Aberrant angiogenesis is a major contributor to poor wound healing in diabetes and surgical intervention is often necessary to establish peripheral blood flow necessary for healing wounds. Over recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in the dysregulation of angiogenesis in multiple pathologies including diabetes. This review explores the pathways of angiogenesis that become dysregulated in diabetes, focusing on miRNAs that have been identified and the mechanisms by which they affect angiogenesis.

Ameliorative effects of clindamycin - nanoceria conjugate: A ROS responsive smart drug delivery system for diabetic wound healing study

BACKGROUND

Increased incidence of antibiotic-resistant species calls for development of new types of nano-medicine that can be used for healing of bacteria-caused wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcer. As diabetic patients have inefficient defense mechanism against reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in our body as a by-product of oxygen reduction, the process of wound healing takes longer epithelialisation period. Ceria nanoparticles (CNPs) are well-known for their antibacterial and ROS-scavenging nature. Yet till now no significant effort has been made to conjugate ceria nanoparticles with drugs to treat diabetic wounds.

METHODS

In this experiment, CNPs were synthesized in-house and clindamycin hydrochloride was loaded onto it by physical adsorption method for reactive oxygen species responsive drug delivery. Various physico-chemical characterisations such as Transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Energy dispersive X-ray, Thermogravimetric study etc. were performed to affirm the formation of both nanoceria along with drug encapsulated nanoceria.

RESULTS

Both of these as-prepared formulations inhibited the growth of Gram-positive as well as Gram-negative bacteria confirmed by Disk diffusion study; exhibiting their antibacterial effect. In-vitro drug release study was carried out in physiological environment both in absence and presence of hydrogen peroxide solution to test the reactive ROS-responsiveness of the drug loaded nanocomposites. It also exhibited faster wound healing in diabetes-induced rats. Therefore, it could successfully lower the amount of serum glucose level, inflammation cytokines, hepatotoxic and oxidative stress markers in diabetic rats as confirmed by various ex vivo tests conducted.

CONCLUSION

Thus, drug loaded ceria nanoparticles have the potential to heal diabetic wounds successfully and can be considered to be useful for the fabrication of appropriate medicated suppositories beneficial for diabetic foot ulcer treatment in future.

Nanomaterials for diabetic wound healing: Visualization and bibliometric analysis from 2011 to 2021

BACKGROUND

Nanomaterials have recently been shown to have a considerable advantage in promoting wound healing in diabetic patients or animal models. However, no bibliometric analysis has been conducted to evaluate global scientific production. Herein, this study aimed to summarize the current characteristics, explore research trends, and clarify the direction of nanomaterials and diabetic wound healing in the future.

METHODS

Relevant publications from 2011 to 2021 were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection on October 3, 2022. VOSviewer, CiteSpace, bibliometrix-R package, Origin 2021, and Microsoft Excel 2019 were used for bibliometric and visualization analyses.

RESULTS

We identified 409 publications relating to nanomaterials and diabetic wound healing. The number of annual productions remarkably increased from 2011 to 2021, with China and Shanghai Jiao Tong University being the most productive. The most prolific authors were Hasan Anwarul. The leading journal was the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, with 22 publications. The most popular keywords were "nanoparticles," "delivery," "in vitro," "electrospinning," "angiogenesis," and "antibacterial." Keyword burst analysis showed "cerium oxide," "matrix metalloproteinase 9," "composite nanofiber," "hif 1 alpha," and "oxide nanoparticle" were emerging research hotspots.

CONCLUSION

We found there has been a great progress in the application of nanomaterials in diabetic wound healing from 2011 to 2021. Although many researchers and institutions from different countries or regions contributed contributed to publications, it will be helpful or the development of this field if the degree of international cooperation can be enhanced. In the future, nanomaterials with powerful antioxidant and antibacterial qualities and promoting angiogenesis are the research hotspots.

Assessing the bio-stability of microRNA-146a conjugated nanoparticles via electroanalysis

The number of diabetics is increasing worldwide and is associated with significant instances of clinical morbidity. Increased amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and proinflammatory cytokines are associated with the pathogenesis of diabetic wounds and result in a significant delay in healing. Our previous studies have shown the ability of a cerium oxide nanoparticle (CNP) formulation conjugated with the anti-inflammatory microRNA miR146a (CNP-miR146a) to enhance the healing of diabetic wounds. The observed therapeutic activity exceeded the combined efficacies of the individual conjugate components (CNPs and miR146a alone), suggesting a synergistic effect. The current study evaluates whether the previously observed enhanced activity arises from increased agent delivery (simple nanocarrier activity) or is specific to the CNP-miR146a formulation (functional, bio-active nanomaterial). Comparison with miR146a conjugated gold (bioactive, metal) and silica (bioinert, oxide) nanoparticles (AuNPs and SiO₂NPs) was performed in the presence of H₂O₂, as an analogue to the high levels of ROS present in the diabetic wound environment. Electrochemical studies, materials characterization, and chemical assays showed limited interaction of AuNP-miR146a with H₂O₂ and instability of SiO₂NP-miR146a over time. In contrast, and in support of our prior results, CNP-miR146a displayed chemical stability and persistent ROS scavenging ability. Furthermore, it was determined that CNPs protect miR146a from oxidative damage under prolonged exposure to H₂O₂, whereas AuNPs and SiO₂NPs were shown to be ineffective. Overall, these results reinforce the ability of CNPs to stabilize and protect miRNA while exhibiting robust antioxidant properties, suggesting that therapeutic activity observed in related earlier studies is not limited to a facile nanocarrier function.

Engineered Faceted Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles for Therapeutic miRNA Delivery

In general, wound healing is a highly ordered process, with distinct phases of inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. However, among diabetic patients, the progression through these phases is often impeded by increased level of oxidative stress and persistent inflammation. Our previous studies demonstrated that cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs) conjugated with therapeutic microRNA146a (miR146a) could effectively enhance wound healing by targeting the NFκB pathway, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. In the present study, we consider the potential effects of nanomaterial surface-faceting and morphology on the efficacy of miRNA delivery. Compared with octahedral-CNPs and cubic-CNPs, rod-CNPs exhibited higher loading capacity. In addition, in comparing the influence of particle morphology on wound healing efficacy, several markers for bioactivity were evaluated and ascribed to the combined effects of the gene delivery and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging properties. In the cellular treatment study, rod-CNP-miR146a displayed the greatest miR146a delivery into cells. However, the reduction of IL-6 was only observed in the octahedral-CNP-miR146a, suggesting that the efficacy of the miRNA delivery is a result of the combination of various factors. Overall, our results give enlightenments into the relative delivery efficiency of the CNPs with different morphology enhancing miRNA delivery efficacy.

Data assimilation on mechanistic models of glucose metabolism predicts glycemic states in adolescents following bariatric surgery

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a complex and under-treated disorder closely intertwined with obesity. Adolescents with severe obesity and type 2 diabetes have a more aggressive disease compared to adults, with a rapid decline in pancreatic β cell function and increased incidence of comorbidities. Given the relative paucity of pharmacotherapies, bariatric surgery has become increasingly used as a therapeutic option. However, subsets of this population have sub-optimal outcomes with either inadequate weight loss or little improvement in disease. Predicting which patients will benefit from surgery is a difficult task and detailed physiological characteristics of patients who do not respond to treatment are generally unknown. Identifying physiological predictors of surgical response therefore has the potential to reveal both novel phenotypes of disease as well as therapeutic targets. We leverage data assimilation paired with mechanistic models of glucose metabolism to estimate pre-operative physiological states of bariatric surgery patients, thereby identifying latent phenotypes of impaired glucose metabolism. Specifically, maximal insulin secretion capacity, σ, and insulin sensitivity, S_I, differentiate aberrations in glucose metabolism underlying an individual's disease. Using multivariable logistic regression, we combine clinical data with data assimilation to predict post-operative glycemic outcomes at 12 months. Models using data assimilation sans insulin had comparable performance to models using oral glucose tolerance test glucose and insulin. Our best performing models used data assimilation and had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.77 (95% confidence interval 0.7665, 0.7734) and mean average precision of 0.6258 (0.6206, 0.6311). We show that data assimilation extracts knowledge from mechanistic models of glucose metabolism to infer future glycemic states from limited clinical data. This method can provide a pathway to predict long-term, post-surgical glycemic states by estimating the contributions of insulin resistance and limitations of insulin secretion to pre-operative glucose metabolism.

In vitro and Ex vivo Antioxidant Activity and Sustained Release Properties of Sinomenine-Loaded Liposomes-in-Hydrogel Biomaterials Simulating Cells-in-Extracellular Matrix

Sinomenine (SIN), a natural product, has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in China for thousands of years. SIN has been developed for the treatment of RA by way of tablets and injections, but both dosage forms have been associated with severe adverse reactions. Making SIN into liposomes-in-hydrogel biomaterials for external use has a good slow-release effect and can play an important role in avoiding the first-pass effect, gastrointestinal reaction, and increasing the local action time of drugs. SIN-loaded liposomes were formed by the thin-film dispersion method, then SIN-loaded liposomes-in-hydrogels were prepared by combining the SIN-L with hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels. In this paper, the basic characteristics, In vitro and Ex vivo release, and antioxidant activity of SIN-loaded liposomes-in-hydrogels were studied. The results showed that SIN-loaded liposomes-in-hydrogels have good sustained-release and antioxidant effects, and the preparation is expected to be a good biomaterial.

How Effective are Nano-Based Dressings in Diabetic Wound Healing? A Comprehensive Review of Literature

Chronic wound caused by diabetes is an important cause of disability and seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Therefore, it is of great clinical significance to develop a wound dressing that can accelerate the healing of diabetic wounds. Nanoparticles have great advantages in promoting diabetic wound healing due to their antibacterial properties, low cytotoxicity, good biocompatibility and drug delivery ability. Adding nanoparticles to the dressing matrix and using nanoparticles to deliver drugs and cytokines to promote wound healing has proven to be effective. This review will focus on the effects of diabetes on wound healing, introduce the properties, preparation methods and action mechanism of nanoparticles in wound healing, and describe the effects and application status of various nanoparticle-loaded dressings in diabetes-related chronic wound healing.

Silk Fibroin-Based Therapeutics for Impaired Wound Healing

Impaired wound healing can lead to local hypoxia or tissue necrosis and ultimately result in amputation or even death. Various factors can influence the wound healing environment, including bacterial or fungal infections, different disease states, desiccation, edema, and even systemic viral infections such as COVID-19. Silk fibroin, the fibrous structural-protein component in silk, has emerged as a promising treatment for these impaired processes by promoting functional tissue regeneration. Silk fibroin’s dynamic properties allow for customizable nanoarchitectures, which can be tailored for effectively treating several wound healing impairments. Different forms of silk fibroin include nanoparticles, biosensors, tissue scaffolds, wound dressings, and novel drug-delivery systems. Silk fibroin can be combined with other biomaterials, such as chitosan or microRNA-bound cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNP), to have a synergistic effect on improving impaired wound healing. This review focuses on the different applications of silk-fibroin-based nanotechnology in improving the wound healing process; here we discuss silk fibroin as a tissue scaffold, topical solution, biosensor, and nanoparticle.

Diverse nanocomposites as a potential dressing for diabetic wound healing

Wound healing is a programmed process of continuous events which is impaired in the case of diabetic patients. This impaired process of healing in diabetics leads to amputation, longer hospitalisation, immobilisation, low self-esteem, and mortality in some patients. This problem has paved the way for several innovative strategies like the use of nanotechnology for the treatment of wounds in diabetic patients. The use of biomaterials, nanomaterials have advanced approaches in tissue engineering by designing multi-functional nanocomposite scaffolds. Stimuli-responsive scaffolds that interact with the wound microenvironment and controlled release of bioactive molecules have helped in overcoming barriers in healing. The use of different types of nanocomposite scaffolds for faster healing of diabetic wounds is constantly being studied. Nanocomposites have helped in addressing specific issues with respect to healing and improving angiogenesis. Method: A literature search was followed to retrieve the articles on strategies for wound healing in diabetes across several databases like PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and Cochrane database. The search was performed in May 2022 by two researchers independently. They keywords used were "diabetic wounds, nanotechnology, nanocomposites, nanoparticles, chronic diabetic wounds, diabetic foot ulcer, hydrogel". Exclusion criteria included insulin resistance, burn wound, dressing material.