Efficacy of new hydrogel for repair of chronic infectious skin wounds in diabetic rats

OBJECTIVE This study evaluates the role of Gelation metnacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel loaded with hPTH(3-34)(29-34) short peptide in the healing of chronic infectious skin wounds in diabetic rats.

METHODS Experimental rats were divided into control group, GelMA group and GelMA+hPTH(3-34)(29-34) group, with 15 rats in each group. Diabetic rat models were prepared, and chronic infectious skin wounds were constructed. Differences in wound area changes, wound healing-related indicator type Ⅰ collagen α1 chain (COL1A1), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox2) expression and migration ability of fibroblasts in vitro were compared among the groups.

RESULTS Compared with the control group, the wound area of rats in the GelMA group decreased on Day 7 and Day 14 (P < 0.05), and the wound area of rats in the GelMA+hPTH(3-34)(29-34) group decreased on Day 3, Day 7 and Day 14 (P < 0.05). Compared with the GelMA group, the wound area of rats in the GelMA+hPTH(3-34)(29-34) group decreased on Day 3, Day 7 and Day 14 (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, on Day 7 after modeling, the expression of COL1A1, α-SMA and CD31 in rats was upregulated, and in the GelMA+hPTH(3-34)(29-34) group showed a greater increase than in the GelMA group (P < 0.05), while the expression of MMP9 and Cox2 was downregulated, and in the GelMA+hPTH(3-34)(29-34) group showed a greater decrease than in the GelMA group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, on Day 7 after modeling, the relative activity of NLRP3, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β and Caspase-1 in rats decreased, and in the GelMA+hPTH(3-34)(29-34) group showed a greater decrease than in the GelMA group (P < 0.05). On Day 7 after modeling, the relative scratch distance of fibroblasts derived from the wound tissue in the GelMA+hPTH(3-34)(29-34) group was greater than that in the GelMA group, which was greater than that in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS The GelMA hydrogel loaded with hPTH(3-34)(29-34) short peptide can effectively accelerate the wound healing process and enhance tissue repair and structural reconstruction by inhibiting the activity of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, demonstrating its potential to improve wound healing efficiency.