Remarkable Gel promise Diabetic Ulcers' Recovery within Two Weeks
A groundbreaking treatment for diabetic wounds has been developed by a team of Chinese researchers, combining advanced tissue engineering with molecular biology. The new therapy uses miR-221OE-sEVs encapsulated in GelMA hydrogel to target thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), a protein that inhibits the growth of new blood vessels in the healing process of chronic wounds.
Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a protein that increases in diabetic wounds due to high glucose conditions, impairing endothelial cells and slowing angiogenesis, a critical process for tissue repair. MiR-221-3p, a microRNA overexpressed in engineered small extracellular vesicles (miR-221OE-sEVs), specifically targets and downregulates TSP-1 expression in endothelial cells, reversing this inhibition.
GelMA hydrogel acts as a biocompatible scaffold mimicking the extracellular matrix, allowing controlled and sustained release of the miR-221OE-sEVs directly at the wound site, maintaining their local therapeutic effect. In diabetic mouse models, this combined dressing achieved a 90% wound closure rate within 12 days, significantly faster than controls, along with increased new blood vessel formation indicating restored angiogenesis.
Chuan'an Shen, a researcher at The Fourth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, stated that the new treatment combines advanced tissue engineering with molecular biology. Shen believes this breakthrough could revolutionize how diabetic wound care is approached, with the potential to significantly improve patients' quality of life.
The study, published in the journal Burns & Trauma, also suggests that the therapy could be applicable to other chronic wounds or tissue regeneration applications. The authors plan to bring the new gel into clinical trials.
In summary, miR-221OE-sEVs suppress TSP-1 to promote endothelial cell function and angiogenesis, while GelMA ensures sustained, localized delivery, together accelerating diabetic wound healing. This innovative treatment offers a promising advancement for diabetic wound treatment and could potentially revolutionize the approach to chronic wound care.
The groundbreaking treatment for diabetic wounds, developed by Chinese researchers, could also be applicable to other chronic wounds or tissue regeneration applications, as suggested in the study published in Burns & Trauma. The study indicates that this combined therapy, involving miR-221OE-sEVs and GelMA hydrogel, holds potential for significantly improving patient's quality of life.
MiR-221OE-sEVs, encapsulated in GelMA hydrogel, target thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), a protein that inhibits the growth of new blood vessels in healing chronic wounds, particularly in high glucose conditions seen in diabetic patients. By suppressing TSP-1, miR-221OE-sEVs promote endothelial cell function and angiogenesis, a critical process for tissue repair.
GelMA hydrogel, acting as a biocompatible scaffold, ensures controlled and sustained release of miR-221OE-sEVs directly at the wound site, maintaining their local therapeutic effect. This innovative approach, according to Chuan'an Shen, a researcher at The Fourth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, combines advanced tissue engineering with molecular biology and could revolutionize the approach to chronic wound care, including skin care and fitness-and-exercise related conditions.
Moreover, this treatment could have implications for mental-health, as emotional well-being can be affected by chronic diseases such as diabetes. Better management of chronic conditions like diabetes, through innovative treatments such as this one, could potentially improve overall health-and-wellness. Furthermore, proper nutrition plays a crucial role in managing chronic diseases, and this treatment could be a significant step towards addressing nutritional challenges in diabetic patients.
