Multifunctional Hydrogel of Recombinant Humanized Collagen Loaded with MSCs and MnO₂ Accelerates Chronic Diabetic Wound Healing

Abstract

Chronic wound repair is a clinical treatment challenge. The development of multifunctional hydrogels is of great significance in the key aspects of treating chronic wounds, including reducing oxidative stress, promoting angiogenesis, and improving the natural remodeling of extracellular matrix and immune regulation. In this study, we prepared a composite hydrogel, sodium alginate (SA)@MnO 2 /recombinant humanized collagen III (RHC)/mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), composed of SA, MnO 2 nanoparticles, RHC, and MSCs. The hydrogel has high mechanical properties and good biocompatibility. In vitro, SA@MnO 2 /RHC/MSCs hydrogel effectively enhanced the formation of intricate tubular structures and angiogenesis and showed synergistic effects on cell proliferation and migration. In vivo, the SA@MnO 2 /RHC/MSCs hydrogel enhanced diabetes wound healing, rapid re-epithelization, favorable collagen deposition, and abundant wound angiogenesis. These findings demonstrated that the combined effects of SA, MnO 2, RHC, and MSCs synergistically accelerate healing, resulting in a reduced healing time. These observed healing effects demonstrated the potential of this multifunctional hydrogel to transform chronic wound care and improve patient outcomes.