Unimolecular Cascaded Multienzyme Conjugates Modulate the Microenvironment of Diabetic Wound to Promote Healing

Biomacromolecules. 2024 Jan 8;25(1):43-54. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00698. Epub 2023 Dec 23.

Abstract

An abnormal microenvironment underlies poor healing in chronic diabetic chronic wounds. However, effectively modulating the microenvironment of the diabetic wound remains a great challenge due to sustained oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. Here, we present a unimolecular enzyme-polymer conjugate that demonstrates excellent multienzymatic cascade activities. The cascaded enzyme conjugates (CECs) were synthesized by grafting poly(N-acryloyl-lysine) (pLAAm) from the glycan moieties of glucose oxidase (GOx) via glycan-initiated polymerization. The resulting CECs exhibited multiple enzymatic properties of GOx, superoxide dismutase mimic, and catalase mimic activities simultaneously. The CECs facilitated the depletion of high blood glucose, ROS scavenging, bacteria-killing, anti-inflammatory effects, and sustained oxygen generation, which restored the microenvironment in diabetic wounds. In vivo results from a diabetic mouse model confirmed the capacity and efficiency of the cascade reaction for diabetic wound healing. Our findings demonstrate that the three-in-one enzyme-polymer conjugates alone can modulate the diabetic microenvironment for wound healing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diabetes Mellitus*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Glucose Oxidase*
  • Hydrogels
  • Mice
  • Polymers
  • Polysaccharides
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Wound Healing

Substances

  • Glucose Oxidase
  • Polymers
  • Polysaccharides
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Hydrogels