The complex wound environment of diabetic wounds leads to poor treatment efficacy, and the inflammatory disorders and vascular injury are the primary causes of death in such patients. Herein, a sprayable, controllable adaptive, pH-responsive nanosystem of molybdate and oligosaccharide (CMO) is specially developed as an immunomodulatory and angiogenesis-promotion material for diabetic wound healing. CMO exhibited pH-responsive release of Mo2+ and oligosaccharide (COS), specifically in response to the alkalescent environment observed in diabetic wounds. CMO provide an anti-inflammatory environment by promoting M2 polarization through significantly stimulating macrophage mitochondrial function. Specifically, CMO with a certain concentration reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) expression, and upregulated mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and interleukin 10 (IL-10) expression in macrophages. Moreover, CMO facilitate angiogenesis via upregulating the PI3K/HIF-1α/VEGF pathway-a critical process for the formation of new blood vessels that supply nutrients and oxygen to the healing tissue. Remarkably, CMO promote cell viability and migration of endothelial cells, and enhance the expression of angiogenic genes. In vitro and in vivo studies suggest this simple but powerful nanosystem targeting mitochondrial function has the potential to become an effective treatment for diabetic wound healing.
Keywords: PI3K/HIF-1α/VEGF pathway; angiogenesis; diabetic wounds; macrophages; mitochondrial function; molybdate-oligosaccharide.
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