21 May Microfluidically generated gels enhance chronic wound healing by pH regulation
Abstract
“The pH value in the wound milieu plays a key role in cellular processes and cell cycle processes involved in the process of wound healing. Here, a microfluidic assembly technique is employed to fabricate micro-gel ensembles that can precisely tune the pH value of wound surface and accelerate wound healing. The micro-gel ensembles consist of poly (hydroxypropyl acrylate-co-acrylic acid)-magnesium ions (poly-(HPA-co-AA)-Mg2+) gel and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) gel, which can release and absorb hydrogen ion (H+) separately at different stages of healing in response to the evolution of wound microenvironment. By regulating the wound pH to affect the proliferation and migration of cell on the wound and the activity of various biological factors in the wound, the physiological processes are greatly facilitated which results in much accelerated healing of chronic wound. This work presents an effective strategy in designing wound healing materials with vast potentials for chronic wound management.”
“Formation and application of micro-gel ensembles. a) Schematic synthesis of micro-gel ensembles via hydrogen bonding of Gel 1 and Gel 2. b) Microfluidic assembly of Gel 1 and 2 into micro-gel ensembles with various macrostructures using specific microfluidic chips and channels. c) The pH regulating mechanism of micro-gel ensembles for skin wound treatments, and d) the corresponding skin healing mechanism. Initially, the -COOH group on the surface of Gel 1 releases free H+ into the wound microenvironment, which adjust the pH of the wound during the early stage of skin healing. Then, the rich -NH2 group in Gel 2 absorbs free H+ from the microenvironment, converting to NH3+ and destroying the bacterial membrane structures, thus protecting the wound whilst regulating the pH value of the wound during the late stages of skin healing. Finally, micro-gel ensembles regulate the wound’s microenvironment, facilitating rapid healing process (anti-infective, adipocyte covering wound, and macrophage polarization).” Reproduced under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License from Cui, T., Yu, J., Wang, C.-F., Chen, S., Li, Q., Guo, K., Qing, R., Wang, G., Ren, J., Micro-Gel Ensembles for Accelerated Healing of Chronic Wound via pH Regulation. Adv. Sci. 2022, 2201254.
Figures and the abstract are reproduced from Cui, T., Yu, J., Wang, C.-F., Chen, S., Li, Q., Guo, K., Qing, R., Wang, G., Ren, J., Micro-Gel Ensembles for Accelerated Healing of Chronic Wound via pH Regulation. Adv. Sci. 2022, 2201254. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202201254
under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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