Bioengineered Premna Microphylla-Silver Nanoparticle Hydrogel for Multidrug-Resistant Wound Management in Diabetic Therapeutics

Diabetic wounds are typically difficult to heal. They are usually characterized by prolonged healing time and increased susceptibility to bacterial infection. Therefore, altering the wound microenvironment and improving antibacterial property are effective treatment strategies. In this study, a plant hydrogel with antimicrobial activity and pro-healing properties was designed to integrate silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with antimicrobial activity into the natural Tofu Chai (<i>Premna microphylla Turcz</i>, PMT) hydrogel, which exhibits strong pro-healing ability and antibacterial infections on the wound surface. In vitro experiments showed that AgNPs-PMT had a significant killing effect on Methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA), with an antibacterial efficiency reaching 95.6%. In vivo results showed that AgNPs-PMT efficiently cleared bacteria at the wound site to promote the formation of neovascularization, collagen and granulation tissue, and facilitated wound healing in a diabetic wound model with MRSA infection. On the 11th day, the wound area was only 5.4% of its original size. Overall, AgNPs-PMT demonstrated favorable antibacterial effects against MRSA and showed great potential in the treatment of chronic diabetic wounds.