Fluorinated Peptide Nanoscale Hydrogel Accelerates Wound Healing via pH and Oxygen Microenvironment Regulation

Abstract

The abnormal levels of pH and oxygen (O 2 ) in the wound microenvironment impeded wound healing, and their regulation remains a challenge. Thus, a wound dressing with pH and O 2 -regulating capacity is urgently desired. Here, we designed and prepared a fluorinated peptide hydrogel wound dressing to regulate the pH and O 2 microenvironment of the wound site. Fluorinated peptides with the (naphthalene-2-ly)-Gly-5f Phe-5f Phe-Tyr-Arg-Gly-Asp sequence (F 5 −Pep) could self-assemble to a nanofiber network in a weak acidic buffer (pH = 6.0), which is similar to the pH of human skin. The F 5 −Pep hydrogel can maintain pH levels at 6.0−7.3 for 24 h and continuously release O 2 for 4 h. The blood coagulation and hemostasis assay showed that the F 5 −Pep hydrogel significantly accelerated blood clotting speed in vitro and rapidly controlled hemorrhage in a mouse liver hemorrhage model. In vitro cell migration assays and in vivo animal experiments confirmed that the F 5 −Pep hydrogel can promote cell migration and wound healing. In summary, this work might provide an effective treatment strategy for wounds and develop advanced wound-healing materials.