Diabetic wounds, in particular feet ulcers, are notorious for their slow and often incomplete healing due to the drop in blood flow and dysfunction of endothelial cells. One of the main contributors to this question is thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), which inhibits the growth of new blood vessels, a crucial process for fabrics. Despite various existing treatments, the challenge to take up this barrier to healing remains unsecured. With the global increase in diabetes cases, new treatments targeting the underlying causes of delayed wound healing have become a critical research area. In the light of these current challenges, this study explores a new approach to stimulate angiogenesis and accelerate the healing process.
In a new study (DOI: 10.1093 / Burnst / Tkaf036) published in Burns and traumaA team of researchers from the main Chinese institutions has unveiled a new therapeutic solution for the healing of diabetic wounds. The study introduces an innovative dressing that combines MIR-221OE-SEVS-designed extracellular vesicles that target and reduce TSP-1 levels-with a hydrogel gelma to create a prolonged release system. This advanced approach has shown that it considerably improves the healing of wounds and the formation of blood vessels in diabetic mice, offering hope to more effective treatments in the future.
In their study, researchers have discovered that glucose conditions commonly found in diabetic wounds lead to an increase in TSP-1 levels in endothelial cells, altering their ability to proliferate and migrate-key processes for angiogenesis. Using MIR-221-3P, a microarn that targets and regulates expression of TSP-1, they restored the function of endothelial cells. The MIR-221OE-Sevs of engineering were encapsulated in a hydrogel Gelma, guaranteeing a controlled release on the plague site, imitating the extracellular matrix. In animal tests, this composite dressing has considerably accelerated the healing of wounds, with a significant increase in vascularization and a rate of closing of 90% in just 12 days, compared to slower healing in control groups.
Dr. Chuan’an Shen, a key research researcher, shared his enthusiasm for the potential impact of this innovation: “ Our results demonstrate the power to combine advanced tissue engineering with molecular biology. By targeting TSP-1 with the MIR-221OE-Sevs encapsulated in Gelma, we have not only improved the function of endothelial cells, but we also provided a sustained and localized therapeutic effect. This breakthrough could revolutionize the way we approach diabetic care of wounds, with the potential to considerably improve the quality of life of patients.«
The success of this engineering hydrogel in the healing of diabetic wounds opens up several fascinating possibilities. Beyond the diabetic ulcers of the feet, technology could be adapted for use in the treatment of other chronic wounds, such as those caused by vascular diseases, or even in regenerating tissues such as bones and cartilage. As research and clinical trials are progressing, the promise to combine therapies based on Miarn with biocompatible hydrogels could become a cornerstone in regenerative medicine, offering patients healing solutions for more efficient and lasting wounds.