Multifunction gelatin/chitosan composite microspheres with ROS-scavenging and antibacterial activities for improving the microenvironment of chronic wounds

Abstract

Inhibiting harmful bacterial proliferation and alleviating oxidative stress are two tough challenges in the treatment of chronic wounds. Herein, multifunction gelatin/chitosan composite microspheres with ROS-scavenging and antibacterial activities have been constructed for chronic wound healing. By combining MnO₂ nanosheets, the microspheres achieve ROS-scavenging and O₂ content enhancement to remodel the hazardous oxidative stress microenvironment. Meanwhile, water-soluble PHMG is uniformly grafted to the gelatin/chitosan scaffold, showing a broad-spectrum and lasting antibacterial effect. The gelatin/chitosan scaffold with good biocompatibility can promote cell proliferation. These findings collectively confirm that the synergistic effect of each component in our microspheres can effectively address the hurdles including excessive oxidative stress, hypoxia and susceptibility to bacterial invasion in chronic wounds.