Hair Derived Microneedle Patches for Both Diabetic Foot Ulcer Prevention and Healing.

The large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by high glucose metabolism in diabetic patients not only induces inflammation but also damages blood vessels, finally resulting in low limb temperature, and the high glucose environment in diabetic patients also makes them susceptible to bacterial infection. Therefore, diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) usually presents as a nonhealing wound. To efficaciously prevent and treat DFU, we proposed a near-infrared (NIR) responsive microneedle (MN) patch hierarchical microparticle (HMP)-ZnO-MN-vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor (H-Z-MN-VEGF&bFGF), which could deliver drugs to the limbs painlessly, accurately, and controllably under NIR irradiation. Therein, the hair-derived HMPs exhibited the capacity of scavenging ROS, thereby preventing damage to the blood vessels. Meanwhile, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles endowed the MN patch with excellent antibacterial activity which could be further enhanced with the photothermal effect of HMPs under NIR irradiation. Moreover, vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor could promote the angiogenesis. A series of experiments proved that the MN patch exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial and anti-inflammatory capacities. In vivo, it obviously increased the temperature of fingertips in diabetic rats as well as promoted collagen deposition and angiogenesis during wound healing. In conclusion, this therapeutic platform provides a promising method for the prevention and treatment of DFU.

Upconversion nanoparticles regulated drug & gas dual-effective nanoplatform for the targeting cooperated therapy of thrombus and anticoagulation.

Thromboembolism is the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality. Currently, for the lack of targeting, short half-life, low bioavailability and high bleeding risk of the classical thrombolytic drugs, pharmacological thrombolysis is usually a slow process based on micro-pumping. In addition, frequently monitoring and regulating coagulation functions are also required during (and after) the process of thrombolysis. To address these issues, a targeted thrombolytic and anticoagulation nanoplatform (UCATS-UK) is developed based on upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) that can convert 808 or 980 nm near-infrared (NIR) light into UV/blue light. This nanoplatform can target and enrich in the thrombus site. Synergistic thrombolysis and anticoagulation therapy thus could be realized through the controlled release of urokinase (UK) and nitric oxide (NO). Both in vitro and in vivo experiments have confirmed the excellent thrombolytic and anticoagulative capabilities of this multifunctional nanoplatform. Combined with the unique fluorescent imaging capability of UCNPs, this work is expected to contribute to the development of clinical thrombolysis therapy towards an integrated system of imaging, diagnosis and treatment.

Dual-Effective Chronic Wounds Management System through a Monoglyceride Binary Blend Matrix Based Thermal-Responsive Phase-Transition Substrate.

A new monoglyceride-based heat-sensitive substrate is proposed, for the first time, as a wound management system. First, an appropriate portion of glyceryl monooleate (GMO) and glyceryl monostearate (GMS) is mixed to provide a thermal phase responsive matrix (GMO-GMS, GG). Subsequently, to improve the photothermal responsive and antibacterial performance, silver nanoparticles (Ag) decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposite (rGO-Ag) is added to the GG matrix to obtain (GG-rGO-Ag). According to the systematic studies from uninfected, infected, and diabetic wound models, by applying near infrared (NIR) laser, the phase change of GG-rGO-Ag can be triggered to release Ag on demand for sterilization. More importantly, this smart GG substrate can also promote the production of vascular endothelial growth factor protein, thus serving as a NIR defined mufti-effective wound management system.