Pluronic F127-Lipoic Acid Adhesive Nanohydrogel Combining with Ce³⁺/Tannic Acid/Ulinastatin Nanoparticles for Promoting Wound Healing

Abstract

Developing strong anti-inflammatory wound dressings is of great significance for protecting inflammatory cutaneous wounds and promoting wound healing. The present study develops a nanocomposite Pluronic F127 (F127)-based hydrogel dressing with injectable, tissue adhesive, and anti-inflammatory performance. Briefly, Ce 3+ /tannic acid/ulinastatin nanoparticles (Ce 3+ /TA/ UTI NPs) are fabricated. Meanwhile, α-lipoic acid is bonded to the ends of F127 to prepare F127-lipoic acid (F127LA) and its nanomicelles. Due to the gradual viscosity change instead of mutation during phase transition, the mixed Ce 3+ /TA/UTI NPs and F127LA nanomicelles show well-performed injectability at 37 °C and can form a semisolid composite nanohydrogel that can tightly attach to the skin at 37 °C. Furthermore, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation without a photoinitiator transforms the semisolid hydrogel into a solid hydrogel with well-performed elasticity and toughness. The UV-cured composite nanohydrogel acts as a bioadhesive that can firmly adhere to tissues. Due to the limited swelling property, the hydrogel can firmly adhere to tissues in a wet environment, which can seal wounds and provide a reliable physical barrier for the wounds. Ce 3+ /TA/UTI NPs in the hydrogel exhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-scavenging ability and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging ability and significantly reduce the expression of inflammatory factors in wounds at the early stage, accelerating LPS-induced wound healing.

Nanotechnological Approaches to Enhance the Potential of α-Lipoic Acid for Application in the Clinic

“…Moreover, upon UV irradiation, the initially semisolid hydrogel solidified, providing tight tissue adherence. The application of the nanohydrogel on wounds suppressed inflammation and facilitated the healing process [ 218 ]. Eventually, an injectable hydrogel with near-infrared, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory properties was developed, incorporating α-lipoic acid-modified palladium nanoparticles into a sodium alginate hydrogel crosslinked with calcium ions [ 219 ].…”

Silicone Bioadhesive with Shear-Stiffening Effect: Rate-Responsive Adhesion Behavior and Wound Dressing Application

“…Adhesives with the ability to attach two separate surfaces together have been crucial in various aspects of modern society since their invention, such as electronics, − construction, and medicine. − In particular, tissue adhesives, exhibiting strong tissue adhesion and compliance to tissues, are frequently employed as wound dressings to prevent bleeding, close wounds, and boost wound healing. − However, the adhesive needs to be removed from the tissue surface after the wound has healed; however, the strong tissue adhesion may cause secondary trauma to the fragile surface of the newly generated tissue. − Therefore, the development of a tissue adhesive with an on-demand adhesion performance is necessary for wound management.…”