Affiliation:
1. Department of Burns the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University Hefei 230022 P. R. China
2. Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University The Key Laboratory of Anti‐inflammatory and Immune Medicines Ministry of Education Hefei 230022 P. R. China
3. Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology School of Basic Medicine Anhui Medical University Hefei 230022 P. R. China
Abstract
AbstractIncreased inflammatory responses and oxidative stress at the wound site following skin trauma impair healing. Furthermore, skin scarring places fibroblasts under severe mechanical stress and aggravates pathological fibrosis. A novel liposomal composite hydrogel is engineered for wound microenvironment remodeling, incorporating dual‐loaded liposomes into gelatin methacrylate to create a nanocomposite hydrogel. Notably, tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) are encapsulated in the hydrophobic and hydrophilic layers of liposomes, respectively. The composite hydrogel maintains porous nanoarchitecture, demonstrating sustainable THC and HGF release and enhanced mechanical properties and biocompatibility. This system effectively promotes cell proliferation and angiogenesis and attenuates apoptosis. It decreases the expression of the inflammatory factors by inhibiting the high‐mobility group box /receptor for advanced glycation end product/NF‐κB (HMGB1/RAGE/NF‐κB)pathway and increases macrophage polarization from M1 to M2 in vitro, effectively controlling inflammatory responses. It exhibits remarkable antioxidant properties by scavenging excess reactive oxygen species and free radicals. Most importantly, it effectively prevents scar formation by restraining the transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β)/Smads pathway that downregulates associated fibrotic factors. It demonstrates strong therapeutic effects against inflammation and fibrosis in a rat skin wound model with biosafety, advancing the development of innovative hydrogel‐based therapeutic delivery strategies for clinical scarless wound therapy.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Scientific Research Foundation of Education Department of Anhui Province of China