Researchers have developed an innovative bandage that combines biologically active substances, which helps accelerate wound closure and prevent infections – with the potential to significantly improve the quality of life of those with diabetes.
Chronic wounds caused by diabetes, and in particular diabetic foot ulcers, pose a heavy burden for patients, as blood vessel regeneration is impaired and delays the healing process. Innovative research offers a unique solution to improve healing, by combining extracellular vesicles (sEVs) containing the microRNA miR-221-3p with a GelMA hydrogel, with the aim of inhibiting the activity of the protein thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), a protein that suppresses the formation of new blood vessels. The new bioactive dressing not only increases the rate of wound healing, but also encourages the formation of new blood vessels, thus offering a new therapeutic direction for dealing with one of the most complex complications of diabetes.
Diabetic wounds, especially foot wounds, are known to have a slow and sometimes non-healing process due to poor blood flow and impaired endothelial cell function. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is one of the main causes of this problem, as it inhibits the process of new blood vessel formation – a process necessary for tissue healing. Although various treatments are currently available, the challenge of improving wound healing still awaits a solution. Against the backdrop of the constant increase in the rate of diabetics worldwide, it is of great importance to develop innovative approaches that target the deep factors that inhibit wound healing. In view of the ongoing difficulties, the current study offers a new way to encourage blood vessel formation and accelerate the healing process.
In a study recently published (DOI: 10.1093/burnst/tkaf036) in the journal Burns & Trauma, a team of researchers from leading institutions in China have developed an advanced therapeutic approach for healing diabetic wounds. The study developed a new dressing that combines engineered extracellular vesicles (miR-221OE-sEVs), which target TSP-1 levels, with GelMA hydrogel, creating a gradual and stable release mechanism of the active ingredient. This method significantly improved wound healing and blood vessel formation in experimental diabetic mice, and it gives hope for the development of more effective treatments in the near future.
In their study, the researchers observed that conditions of high glucose concentration, which characterize wounds in diabetics, lead to an increase in TSP-1 deposits in endothelial cells, impairing their ability to regenerate and move – two processes essential for blood vessel formation. Thanks to the introduction of miR-221-3p, a type of microRNA that reduces the expression of the TSP-1 protein, they were able to restore the cells to their normal function. The researchers wrapped the engineered vesicles in GelMA hydrogel, which allowed for controlled release of the active substance in the wound area, similar to the natural structure of the tissue. In experiments conducted on animals, the composite dressing accelerated wound healing: a significant increase in blood vessel formation was observed and the wound closed by 90% in just 12 days, compared to much slower healing in the control groups.
According to Dr. Chuanen Shen, the principal investigator: "Our results illustrate the great potential of combining advanced tissue engineering with molecular biological tools. By targeting the TSP-1 protein using engineered extracellular vesicles containing miR-221-3p, and incorporating them into the GelMA hydrogel, we were able to not only improve local cell function, but also create a targeted and prolonged therapeutic effect. This breakthrough could fundamentally change the way chronic wounds are treated in diabetic patients, and significantly improve their quality of life."
The success of this model opens up a wide range of possibilities. Beyond diabetic foot ulcers, bioactive dressing technology can also be applied to treat other chronic wounds caused by vascular diseases, and even to the restoration of hard tissues such as bone and cartilage. As research and clinical trials progress, the combination of micro-RNA-based therapies and advanced hydrogels could lead to a breakthrough in the field of regenerative medicine, providing patients with effective and long-term solutions for healing complex wounds.
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