Enhancing Wound Healing With Sprayable Hydrogel Releasing Multi Metallic Ions: Inspired by the Body's Endogenous Healing Mechanism

In the pursuit of new wound care products, researchers are exploring methods to improve wound healing through exogenous wound healing products. However, diverging from this conventional approach, this work has developed an endogenous support system for wound healing, drawing inspiration from the body's innate healing mechanisms governed by the sequential release of metal ions by body at wound site to promote different stages of wound healing. This work engineers a multi-ion-releasing sprayable hydrogel system, to mimic this intricate process, representing the next evolutionary step in wound care products. It comprises Alginate (Alg) and Fibrin (Fib) hydrogel infused with Polylactic acid (PLA) polymeric microcarriers encapsulating multi (calcium, copper, and zinc) nanoparticles (Alg-Fib-PLA-nCMB). Developed sprayable Alg-Fib-PLA-nCMB hydrogel show sustained release of beneficial multi metallic ions at wound site, offering a range of advantages including enhanced cellular function, antibacterial properties, and promotion of crucial wound healing processes like cell migration, ROS mitigation, macrophage polarization, collagen deposition, and vascular regeneration. In a comparative study with a commercial product (Midstress spray), developed Alg-Fib-PLA-nCMB hydrogel demonstrates superior wound healing outcomes in a rat model, indicating its potential for next generation wound care product, addressing critical challenges and offering a promising avenue for future advancements in the wound management.