A novel photosynthetic biologic topical gel for enhanced localized hyperoxygenation augments wound healing in peripheral artery disease

Abstract

Peripheral artery disease and the associated ischemic wounds are substantial causes of global morbidity and mortality, affecting over 200 million people worldwide. Although advancements have been made in preventive, pharmacologic, and surgical strategies to treat this disease, ischemic wounds, a consequence of end-stage peripheral artery disease, remain a significant clinical and economic challenge. Synechococcus elongatus is a cyanobacterium that grows photoautotrophically and converts carbon dioxide and water into oxygen. We present a novel topical biologic gel containing S. elongatus that provides oxygen via photosynthesis to augment wound healing by rescuing ischemic tissues caused by peripheral artery disease. By using light rather than blood as a source of energy, our novel topical therapy significantly accelerated wound healing in two rodent ischemic wound models. This novel topical gel can be directly translated to clinical practice by using a localized, portable light source without interfering with patients’ daily activities, demonstrating potential to generate a paradigm shift in treating ischemic wounds from peripheral artery disease. Its novelty, low production cost, and ease of clinical translatability can potentially impact the clinical care for millions of patients suffering from peripheral arterial disease.

Oxygen-releasing biomaterials for regenerative medicine

“…69 Oxygen-releasing bioscaffolds can be made by combining materials described in the previous part, such as solid peroxides, liquid peroxides, hemoglobin-based artificial oxygen carriers (HBOCs), fluorinated compounds, and even some special materials, such as those used in photosynthetic biology, into scaffold polymers. 19,22,26,58,70 These materials can be used as 2D tissue culture substrates or for 3D encapsulation of cells. Inorganic solid peroxides, such as calcium and sodium peroxide, liquid peroxides, and perfluorinated carbons, have been used to supply oxygen to cells.…”

“…By using light rather than blood as an energy source, the novel topical treatment significantly accelerated wound healing in two rodent models of ischemic wounds. 25 Recent studies by Jian Wang et al reported the development of nanophotosynthetic therapy (NPT) using core–shell Nd. Nd 3+ -doped UCNP converts 808 nm NIR to visible light, thereby driving oxygen production and protecting neurons from ischemic damage in Streptococcus elongatus .…”

“…By using light rather than blood as the energy source, this novel topical therapy significantly accelerated wound healing in two rodent ischemic wound models. 58 Prafulla K. Chandra et al developed a highly portable in situ oxygenated wound dressing using SPO and CPO as the chemical oxygen source. The dressing produced oxygen continuously for more than 3 days, after which it was replaced.…”

Recent Advances of Material‐Decorated Photosynthetic Microorganisms and Their Aspects in Biomedical Applications

“…A comparable approach was developed by Zhu et al, fabricating the hyaluronic acid-based biogel with S. elongatus encapsulation to augment wound healing in peripheral artery disease. [108] Very recently, Corrales-Orovio et al constructed the alginate gel-gauze composited wound dressing containing the transgenic C. reinhardtii microalgae to promote wound healing. [109] Under light irradiation, the microalgae could provide hyperoxygenation while releasing the recombinant human VEGF (Vascular endothelial growth factor) or preloaded bioactive drugs.…”

“…A comparable approach was developed by Zhu et al., fabricating the hyaluronic acid‐based biogel with S. elongatus encapsulation to augment wound healing in peripheral artery disease. [ 108 ] Very recently, Corrales‐Orovio et al. constructed the alginate gel‐gauze composited wound dressing containing the transgenic C. reinhardtii microalgae to promote wound healing.…”