A bioactive multifunctional dressing with simultaneous visible monitoring of pH values and H₂O₂ concentrations for promoting diabetic wound healing

Wound healing in diabetes is a complex physiological process with risks of ulceration and amputation. Real-time monitoring and treatment of diabetic wounds is an effective prevention of further deterioration. Herein, a multifunctional dressing is developed by encapsulating europium-containing bioactive glass (EuBG) and MoO_3-<i>x</i> in a biocompatible sodium alginate (SA) dressing (MoO_3-<i>x</i>-EuBG-SA), aiming to simultaneously monitor the wound pH value and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentration, establish an anti-inflammatory microenvironment, and promote wound healing. The pH-responsive fluorescence quenching effect of EuBG contributes to visible monitoring of pH values, and MoO_3-<i>x</i> enables high responsiveness and accurate colorimetric indication of H₂O₂ variability to understand the dynamic wound status. Then, these fluorescent and colorimetric changes can be captured using a smartphone and transformed into signals for wound pH values and H₂O₂ concentrations, enabling rapid and convenient real-time assessment of wound dynamics. Furthermore, the MoO_3-<i>x</i>-EuBG-SA dressing can reduce inflammation and promote the proliferation, differentiation, and migration of fibroblasts and endothelial cells <i>in vitro</i> with the help of the released bioactive Si, Ca, and Mo ions. Notably, the MoO_3-<i>x</i>-EuBG-SA dressing exhibits excellent abilities to monitor a wound microenvironment and immune regulation and promote diabetic wound healing <i>in vivo</i>. Overall, the multifunctional dressing has great potential for managing diabetic wounds and promoting wound healing.