Multifunctional and Self‐Healing Oxidized Bacterial Nanocellulose‐Based Composite Hydrogels with pH‐Switchable Cascade Enzyme Catalytic Activity for Accelerating Diabetic Wound Healing

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Authors: Yanyan Xie, Dongmei Li, Xi Yan, Mengna Zhang, Weiwei Zhu, Xiaozhi Liu, Yingjie Du, Zhilei Tan, Tengfei Wang, C X Liu, Cheng Zhong
Cited by: 1
References: 32

Abstract

ABSTRACT Effective healing of diabetic wounds remains a major clinical challenge due to persistent hyperglycemia, bacterial infections, and hypoxia. In this study, a multifunctional self‐healing hydrogel by embedding Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles (NPs) immobilized with glucose oxidase (Fe 3 O 4 /GOD) into a dynamic Schiff base‐crosslinked hydrogel matrix of composed of oxidized bacterial nanocellulose (OBNC‐D), carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), and ε‐poly‐L‐lysine (ε‐PL) is developed. The resulting Fe 3 O 4 /GOD@H hydrogel exhibited excellent injectability, mechanical robustness, and self‐healing capability, attributed to dynamic imine bond formation. Functionally, the embedded Fe 3 O 4 /GOD nanozyme enabled glucose‐responsive cascade reactions, generating hydroxyl radicals (·OH) under mildly acidic conditions for potent antibacterial activity, and producing oxygen under neutral conditions to alleviate local hypoxia. In vitro experiments confirmed efficient ·OH generation, sustained oxygen release, and significant antibacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli . The hydrogel also exhibited good hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility, particularly at optimized nanozyme concentrations. In a diabetic rat model, Fe 3 O 4 /GOD@H markedly accelerated wound closure and achieved complete re‐epithelialization within 14 days, with minimal tissue toxicity. This intelligently responsive hydrogel provides a promising strategy for diabetic wound treatment by integrating glucose regulation, antibacterial action, and oxygen delivery to overcome multiple healing barriers.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Wound Healing and Treatments Hydrogels: synthesis properties applications Advanced Cellulose Research Studies

Publication details

Journal / source
Advanced Healthcare Materials
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
15
Issue
22
Pages
e05377–e05377
Publication date
6 May 2026
Language
EN