Injectable Gelatin/Metal/Tea Polyphenol Double Nanonetworks for Diabetic Wound Healing

The study presents a novel approach to treating diabetic wounds using injectable gelatin/metal/tea polyphenol double nanonetworks. These networks remodel the wound microenvironment and accelerate healing by controlling bacterial infections, regulating angiogenesis, and managing reactive oxygen species (ROS). The hydrogels are 3D structures with strong water absorption, excellent biocompatibility, and metabolite transport capabilities. The study found that Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a green tea extract, improved the adhesive, mechanical, antioxidant, and angiogenic properties of the hydrogel. The hydrogels were found to be biocompatible, showing no adverse effects on NIH3T3 and DC2.4 cells. They also demonstrated excellent antioxidant ability, with DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging rates of 97% and 56% respectively. The hydrogel also reduced oxidative stress damage and improved cell activity, and showed potential in promoting cell migration. The hydrogel was found to release EGCG rapidly, aiding in the timely clearance of ROS from the wound. The hydrogel promoted wound hair follicle regeneration and angiogenesis, reduced the inflammatory levels of wounds under high ROS conditions, and promoted collagen maturation during wound healing. The hydrogel was also found to have high biocompatibility and degradability, indicating its potential in tissue repair. The study concludes that hydrogels have great potential in various biomedical applications such as skin tissue engineering.