Chitosan@Puerarin hydrogel for accelerated wound healing in diabetic subjects by miR-29ab1 mediated inflammatory axis suppression

• Published in: Bioactive materials Vol. 19; pp. 653 - 665
• Main Authors: Zeng, Xiaoling, Chen, Baohui, Wang, Luping, Sun, Yingxiao, Jin, Zhao, Liu, Xuanyong, Ouyang, Liping, Liao, Yun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China Elsevier B.V 01.01.2023; KeAi Publishing; KeAi Communications Co., Ltd
• Subjects: Diabetic skin wound healing; Hydrogel; Macrophages; miR-29ab1; miR-29ab1; Hydrogel; Macrophages; Diabetic skin wound healing
• ISSN: 2452-199X; 2452-199X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.04.032

Wound healing is one of the major global health concerns in patients with diabetes. Overactivation of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages is associated with delayed wound healing in diabetes. miR-29ab1 plays a critical role in diabetes-related macrophage inflammation. Hence, inhibition of inflammation and regulation of miR-29 expression have been implicated as new points for skin wound healing. In this study, the traditional Chinese medicine, puerarin, was introduced to construct an injectable and self-healing chitosan@puerarin (C@P) hydrogel. The C@P hydrogel promoted diabetic wound healing and accelerated angiogenesis, which were related to the inhibition of the miR-29 mediated inflammation response. Compared to healthy subjects, miR-29a and miR-29b1 were ectopically increased in the skin wound of the diabetic model, accompanied by upregulated M1-polarization, and elevated levels of IL-1β and TNF-α. Further evaluations by miR-29ab1 knockout mice exhibited superior wound healing and attenuated inflammation. The present results suggested that miR-29ab1 is essential for diabetic wound healing by regulating the inflammatory response. Suppression of miR-29ab1 by the C@P hydrogel has the potential for improving medical approaches for wound repair. [Display omitted] •A chitosan based hydrogel containing puerarin was constructed for promoting diabetic wound healing.•Chitosan@Puerarin hydrogel accelerated skin repair through inhibiting M1-polarization and reducing IL-1β and TNF-α.•miR-29 a/b1 was found to be ectopic increased in the skin-wound of diabetic model.•miR-29 a/b1 was inhibited by Chitosan@Puerarin in diabetic wound healing.