Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Co-Loaded Chitosan/Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogel for Synergistic Treatment of Diabetic Wounds.
To develop a chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (CS/PVA) hydrogel co-loaded with polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) and celecoxib (CEL) for synergistic treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Blank CS/PVA, CEL/CS/PVA, PHMB/CS/PVA, and CEL/PHMB/CS/PVA hydrogels were prepared by freeze-thaw cycles. Their microstructure, swelling, degradation, antibacterial activity, hemocompatibility, and fibroblast migration were evaluated in vitro. A full-thickness wound model in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic mice was used to assess wound healing, inflammation, angiogenesis, macrophage polarization, and biosafety. All hydrogels showed comparable swelling. On Day 7, the degradation rates were 71.04%, 55.80%, 47.49%, and 25.42%, respectively, with CEL/PHMB/CS/PVA showing the lowest degradation rate. PHMB-containing hydrogels inhibited E. coli and S. aureus. All materials had hemolysis rates < 5%, and the composite group showed 1.74%. The 24 h migration rates were 30%, 37%, 48%, and 67%, with the composite group being highest (p < 0.001). In diabetic mice, the composite group achieved 68.89% wound healing on Day 7 and 94.44% on Day 14, versus 69.59% on Day 14 in the untreated diabetic group (p < 0.001). It also increased collagen deposition, reduced IL-1β and IL-6, and promoted CD31+ angiogenesis, α-SMA+ vascular maturation, and CD206+ M2 macrophage polarization, with no obvious systemic toxicity. The CEL/PHMB/CS/PVA composite hydrogel promotes the healing of diabetic wounds through the synergistic effects of PHMB's antibacterial action and CEL's anti-inflammatory action. The hydrogel demonstrates good biosafety and potential for clinical translation.
Authors
Wang Wang, Xiong Xiong, Hu Hu, Sun Sun, Liu Liu, Zhang Zhang, Xu Xu, Cheng Cheng
View on Pubmed