Zn-MOF hydrogel: Regulation of ROS-mediated inflammatory microenvironment for treatment of atopic dermatitis

Abstract

Abstract Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and recurrent inflammation disease associated with immune dysfunction. The high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes high oxidative stress and further results in the deterioration of AD. Here, a Zn-MOF hydrogel is prepared to regulate ROS-mediated inflammatory microenvironment. The hydrogel with high ROS scavenging performance has a good protective effect on cells. The antibacterial agent Zn-MOF(ZIF-8) loaded into the hydrogel (Gel@ZIF-8) can reduce its toxic and side effects and show a lasting and effective antibacterial activity. In the AD-induced mouse model, Gel@ZIF-8 can significantly enhance the therapeutic effect, such as reduce the thickness of epidermis, the number of mast cells and IgE antibodies. The results indicate that the ROS-scavenging hydrogel could treat the AD by regulating the inflammatory microenvironment, providing a promising treatment for managing AD.