(1) Abstract: 

This study develops a PCBOH zwitterionic hydrogel ultrasound patch loaded with mangiferin micelles. It serves as a stable and conformal acoustic coupling interface and enables spatiotemporally controlled drug release under low-intensity pulsed ultrasound, aiming to improve inflammation, oxidative stress, angiogenesis, and matrix remodeling in diabetic wounds.

(2) Background: 

Diabetic wounds often involve persistent inflammation, oxidative stress, impaired angiogenesis, and delayed healing. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound is noninvasive, but conventional coupling materials suffer from unstable conformity, dehydration, and limited durability under repeated stimulation. Mangiferin also has poor aqueous solubility, restricting local delivery.

(3) Main Content: 

Mangiferin was loaded into F127 micelles to improve dispersibility and embedded into a highly entangled PCBOH hydrogel network. The hydrogel provides mechanical toughness, tissue conformity, antifouling properties, and acoustic transmission. Ultrasound alters micellar assembly and promotes mangiferin release, coordinating physical stimulation with local pharmacological action.

(4) Study Design: 

Hydrogel mechanics, rheology, swelling, hydrogen bonding, and acoustic fields were characterized. Mangiferin micelles were prepared and evaluated for size, release, and antioxidant capacity. In vitro assays assessed cytocompatibility, antifouling, ROS scavenging, macrophage polarization, migration, and endothelial tube formation. Diabetic rat and porcine full-thickness wound models were established, with histological and immunofluorescence evaluation.

(5) Results: 

The ultrasound-responsive patch maintained stable acoustic coupling under dynamic conditions. Mangiferin micelles improved aqueous dispersibility and preserved antioxidant activity. Ultrasound-triggered release reduced intracellular ROS, promoted reparative macrophage polarization, enhanced endothelial tube formation, and increased cell migration. In animal models, treatment accelerated wound closure, reduced inflammation, improved collagen arrangement, and enhanced vascular maturation; the porcine full-thickness model further supported the repair effects.

(6) Future Directions: 

Future work should optimize ultrasound parameters and release kinetics, distinguish the contributions of physical ultrasound and drug release, evaluate long-term wearing stability and local safety, and assess mechanistic consistency in large-animal models. Multi-omics analysis may help dissect how ultrasound-drug synergy regulates the wound immune-metabolic network.

We provide full-process services for various material designs (including highly innovative scheme design, preparation, characterization, in vitro and in vivo validation (cell/animal experiments), etc.): a postdoctoral team (with multiple high-impact publications in Zone 1 journals) can meet all kinds of tricky and challenging requirements, including hydrogels / drug delivery / nanomaterials / polymers / liposomes / microneedle drug delivery, etc. We can assist with project design / NSFC grant applications / publication of high-impact Zone 1 and Zone 2 papers in journals such as AFM, SCI, AM, etc. Welcome to consult 👇️
17768014569 (Senior Engineer Gao)
17761925168 (Engineer Zhang)
18013729810 (Engineer Yang)