Niacin Metal-Organic Framework-Laden Self-Healing Hydrogel for Wound Healing

Abstract

Bacterial infection is one of the most significant impediments to wound healing. To treat wounds, non-biological and non-pharmacological interventions have gained increasing importance as they are easily translatable into clinical products. In this study, we developed a niacin metal-organic frameworks (NOFs)-laden hybrid hydrogel with self-healing ability for better wound healing. The copper based-NOFs (Cu-NOFs) and zinc based-NOFs (Zn-NOFs) were constructed and encapsulated into the self-healing hydrogels, which could prevent NOFs from directly interacting with protein-containing solutions (e. g., tissue fluid). The hydrogel was prepared by using four-armed benzaldehyde-terminated polyethylene glycol (BAPEG) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC). Our results showed that the hydrogel gained self-healing ability through reversible Schiff base reaction. In addition, after loading NOFs, the hybrid hydrogel exerted significant effects on antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The in vivo studies demonstrated that the hybrid hydrogel could alleviate inflammation and enhance the formation of granulation tissue, collagen and vascular tissue, thereby promoting wound closure in rats with E. coli -infected wounds. Overall, this study highlights the tremendous potential for the clinical implementation of NOFs-laden hydrogel with good self-healing, antibacterial and antioxidant properties in wound healing.

Advancements and Challenges in Self-Healing Hydrogels for Wound Care

“…Chitosan stands out as a foundational polymer for numerous hydrogels, appreciated for its versatility in both unmodified and modified forms. Research highlights its broad utility in various fields [2][3][4]6,7,48], with chemical modifications of chitosan [1,5,8,11,14,[49][50][51][52][53][54][55] focused on improving aspects like solubility, biocompatibility, and mechanical strength. Combining chitosan with other materials, such as collagen, aims to enhance its biocompatibility and applicability in tissue engineering [10,56].…”

“…However, the development of these hydrogels comes with its own set of challenges. It is crucial to ensure that they are biocompatible and biodegradable to prevent any adverse reactions and allow the body to safely absorb or eliminate them [14]. Additionally, finding the right balance between mechanical strength and the ability to self-heal is essential for hydrogel to withstand the stresses of the wound environment while effectively aiding in the healing process [15,16].…”

Effect of Micro-/Nanoparticle Hybrid Hydrogel Platform on the Treatment of Articular Cartilage-Related Diseases

“…In addition, the injectability ensures localized drug delivery, which is able to enhance the local drug concentration and avoid systemic toxicities [95]. Then, antibacterial and antioxidant properties are important for safety in vivo [96,97]. Accordingly, the micro-/nanoparticle hybrid hydrogel platform is suitable for biomedicine and tissue engineering.…”

Facile synthesis of zinc acetate/niacin MOFs for use in wound healing

“…Local delivery of B vitamins has shown beneficial effects on the wound healing process [9,10]. Vitamin B3, also known as niacin or nicotinic acid, has been reported by several groups to effectively support wound healing [9,11,12].…”

“…Local delivery of B vitamins has shown beneficial effects on the wound healing process [9,10]. Vitamin B3, also known as niacin or nicotinic acid, has been reported by several groups to effectively support wound healing [9,11,12]. One active form of niacin, nicotinamide, has previously shown positive effects on the various stages of wound healing due to its anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, re-epithelization, fibroblast proliferation, and revascularization actions [13].…”