A Versatile Composite\nHydrogel with Spatiotemporal\nDrug Delivery of Mesoporous ZnO and Recombinant Human Collagen for\nDiabetic Infected Wound Healing

Diabetic wounds are increasingly common and challenging\nto treat\ndue to high infection risks in a high-glucose environment. Effective\ntreatment requires wound dressings that combat infections, while promoting\nangiogenesis and skin regeneration. This study presents a hydrogel-based\ndrug delivery system made from cellulose designed to accelerate diabetic\nwound healing by eliminating bacterial infections. The hydrogel, formed\nby linking phenylboronic acid-grafted oxidized methylcellulose (POMC)\nwith poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), exhibits self-healing and injectable\nproperties. It is further enhanced by adding type I recombinant human\ncollagen (rhCOL1) to stimulate cell growth and angiogenesis and mesoporous\nzinc oxide (mZnO) for antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.\nUpon application, the hydrogel degrades under pH/ROS stimuli, releasing\nmZnO and rhCOL1 in a controlled manner that matches the wound healing\nstages. In vivo tests show that the hydrogel effectively eliminates\nbacteria, reduces inflammation, and promotes rapid skin regeneration,\nmaking it a promising solution for treating diabetic wounds.