Polysaccharide-engineered mitochondria reprogram macrophages to resolve diabetic wound inflammation and promote repair

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Authors: Chenyan Yu, Qi Feng, Yi Liao, Meijun Tan, Yanzhi Zhao, Lang Chen, Wei Zhang, Chuanlu Lin, R Zeng, Fawwaz Al-Smadi, Hao Wang, Longyu Du
+6 more Xin Zhang, Ying Hu, Guodong Liu, Zhiyong Hou, Hang Xue, Guohui Liu
Cited by: 1
References: 53

Abstract

Chronic diabetic wounds are characterized by persistent inflammation, defective resolution and impaired tissue regeneration, in which macrophage dysfunction and mitochondrial damage play central roles. Here, we developed a macrophage-targeted engineered mitochondrial transplantation system by coating adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) mitochondria with triphenylphosphonium-modified konjac glucomannan (Mito-TPP-KGM). This design preserves mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP production while reducing ROS generation, and provides a mannose-rich corona for lectin receptor-related uptake. In RAW264.7 macrophages exposed to high glucose plus H 2 O 2 or LPS, Mito-TPP-KGM is efficiently internalized, restores mitochondrial homeostasis, rebalances glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, and shifts inflammatory profiles toward a less inflammatory and more reparative phenotype. Engineered mitochondria also restore efferocytosis of apoptotic neutrophil-like cells and enhance the pro-angiogenic capacity of macrophage-conditioned media, thereby improving endothelial tube formation, migration and proliferation. Blocking experiments with mannan and anti-CD206/anti-DC-SIGN antibodies, together with species-specific mtDNA quantification, indicate that mannose-type lectin receptors contribute to the uptake and immunomodulatory effects of Mito-TPP-KGM. In a db/db mouse full-thickness wound model, local delivery of Mito-TPP-KGM promotes wound repair, improves histological healing, reduces oxidative damage, enhances angiogenesis, and modulates wound macrophage phenotype, leading to accelerated wound closure; these therapeutic benefits are partially attenuated by local CD206 blockade. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that polysaccharide-engineered mitochondria can reprogram diabetic wound macrophages via targeted mitochondrial transplantation, offering a promising immunometabolic strategy for chronic wound therapy. • Engineered Mito-TPP-KGM preserves mitochondrial bioenergetics and promotes macrophage uptake via lectin receptors. • Mito-TPP-KGM restores macrophage mitochondrial membrane potential, lowers ROS, and rebalances metabolism. • Mito-TPP-KGM enhances macrophage efferocytosis and pro-angiogenic paracrine signaling to improve endothelial repair. • In db/db mice, Mito-TPP-KGM shows macrophage-biased wound uptake, reduces oxidative damage, and accelerates wound healing.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Wound Healing and Treatments Immune cells in cancer Autophagy in Disease and Therapy

Publication details

Journal / source
Bioactive Materials
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Volume
63
Pages
484–505
Publication date
11 April 2026
Language
EN