Magnetically Programmable Hydrogel Enables Sequential Thermo‐Mechano Therapy for Infected Diabetic Wound Healing

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Authors: RenJianZhi Zhang, Rongguang Lai, Chao Qu, Juan Wu, YuJie Yan, Xinnan Zheng, Zan Bai, Sixun Zhong, Huicong Du, Maoguo Shu
Cited by: 2
References: 38

Abstract

ABSTRACT Wound healing in diabetic patients is severely compromised by persistent infection, impaired tissue integrity, and chronic inflammation. Here, a thermoresponsive magnetic hydrogel dressing (MHd; PNIPAm‐PAm/Laponite/Fe 3 O 4 /TA) is developed to enable magnetically programmable, time‐sequenced thermos‐mechano‐biochemical regulation for infected diabetic wounds. MHd integrates a temperature‐sensitive polymer network, magnetic Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles, and the natural polyphenol tannic acid (TA), allowing external control under an alternating magnetic field (AMF). By temporally adjusting AMF intensity, MHd can be programmed to operate in distinct therapeutic modes across different treatment phases. High‐intensity AMF induces rapid magnetothermal sterilization and thermoresponsive contraction, generating mechanical traction to accelerate early wound closure while triggering burst TA release for synergistic antibacterial and antioxidant effects. Subsequent low‐intensity AMF maintains mild mechanical regulation and sustained TA release to support continuous bacterial suppression, reactive oxygen species scavenging, and tissue regeneration. In the absence of AMF, MHd remains in a resting mode with baseline TA release to stabilize the wound microenvironment. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate effective antibacterial activity, accelerated wound closure, enhanced angiogenesis, and collagen deposition. Mechanistic analyses suggest that mechanical regulation promotes healing via integrin‐related mechanotransduction signaling. Overall, this work presents a magnetically programmable, stage‐adaptive wound dressing for diabetic wound therapy.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Wound Healing and Treatments Polymer Surface Interaction Studies Hydrogels: synthesis properties applications

Publication details

Journal / source
Small
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
22
Issue
20
Pages
e10260–e10260
Publication date
12 February 2026
Language
EN