Wei Ruoyan, Wang Yunzhe, Feng Ziqing, Liu Rui, Liu Chang, Hu Xiaojun, Liu Yujia, Kong Bin, Zhou Xingtao, Li Meiyan
Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China.
Department of Ophthalmology, Key Lab of Myopia, Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, 200031, China.
J Nanobiotechnology. 2025 Apr 28;23(1):321. doi: 10.1186/s12951-025-03366-2.
Hydrogels have shown great potential and value in wound healing. In this study, we construct a mesenchymal stem cell exosomes (MSC-Exos) laden natural biopolymer-based hydrogel with transparent, self-healing, injectable, and tissue adhesive properties to promote corneal regeneration. This hydrogel is synthesized by combining aldehyde-modified oxidized guar gum (OGG) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) through the dynamic, reversible Schiff base bonds, which endow it with outstanding shear-thinning and self-healing properties, facilitating easy injection through a needle. The physicochemical properties, such as porosity, mechanical strength, and light transmittance, could be precisely tunable by adjusting OGG concentrations. The resultant hydrogel achieves robust tissue adhesion at physiological temperatures due to Schiff base interactions. Besides, the Exos can be uptaken by the corneal epithelial cells and subsequently promote the migration of the cells. We have proven that the MSC-Exos-loaded hydrogel adheres firmly to the defected cornea and significantly improves wound repair by enhancing collagen deposition and reducing inflammation in a rabbit cornea defect model. These results indicated that this multifunctional hydrogel holds immense scientific promise and offers a wide range of clinical applications.
水凝胶在伤口愈合方面已展现出巨大的潜力和价值。在本研究中，我们构建了一种负载间充质干细胞外泌体（MSC-Exos）的、基于天然生物聚合物的水凝胶，其具有透明、自愈、可注射和组织粘附特性，以促进角膜再生。这种水凝胶是通过醛修饰的氧化瓜尔胶（OGG）和羧甲基壳聚糖（CMCS）通过动态、可逆的席夫碱键结合而成，这赋予了它出色的剪切变稀和自愈特性，便于通过针头轻松注射。通过调节OGG浓度，可以精确调控诸如孔隙率、机械强度和透光率等物理化学性质。由于席夫碱相互作用，所得水凝胶在生理温度下能实现强大的组织粘附。此外，外泌体可被角膜上皮细胞摄取，随后促进细胞迁移。我们已经证明，在兔角膜缺损模型中，负载MSC-Exos的水凝胶能牢固地粘附于缺损角膜，并通过增强胶原蛋白沉积和减轻炎症显著改善伤口修复。这些结果表明，这种多功能水凝胶具有巨大的科学前景，并提供了广泛的临床应用。
