Zhang Jinli, Liu Changling, Xie Xiaona, Hu Yiping, Li Xiaojian, Zhang Zhi
Guangzhou Institute of Traumatic Surgery, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
Burns. 2025 Aug 17;51(8):107668. doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2025.107668.
Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell exosomes (ADSC-Exos) show great promise in wound healing and cutaneous regeneration, but their therapeutic efficacy is limited by rapid systemic clearance, preventing sustained local action at the wound site. Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) is a photocrosslinking hydrogel with good biocompatibility and tunable mechanical properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects of GelMA hydrogels loaded with ADSC-Exos (GelMA/ADSC-Exos hydrogels) on the wound healing of full-thickness skin defects.
GelMA/ADSC-Exos hydrogels were prepared, and their physical and sustained-release properties were investigated. To assess the effect of GelMA/ADSC-Exos hydrogels on angiogenesis in vitro, the abilities of proliferation, migration, and tube formation of on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cultured on GelMA/ADSC-Exos hydrogels were assayed. The effect of GelMA/ADSC-Exo hydrogels on wound healing was assessed using a mouse full-thickness excisional skin wound model. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, RNA sequencing was performed, and the effect of GelMA/ADSC-Exo hydrogels on the activity of macrophages was confirmed in vitro.
The composite GelMA/ADSC-Exo hydrogels exhibited desirable mechanical and sustained release properties. They accelerated HUVEC proliferation, adhesion, and tube formation, as well as promoted wound healing in mice with full-thickness skin defects. Further studies showed that these hydrogels promoted macrophage M2 polarization and inhibited the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.
The GelMA/ADSC-Exo hydrogels could serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for wound healing.
