Engineering a biocompatible nanozyme hydrogel: Synergistic nanozyme catalysis and photothermal therapy for diabetic wound repair.

Abstract

Chronic diabetic wounds represent a severe clinical challenge due to persistent oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, bacterial infection, and impaired angiogenesis. Conventional single-modal therapies often fail to simultaneously resolve these intertwined pathological barriers, resulting in poor healing and high amputation risk. Herein, we construct a biocompatible nanozyme integrated hydrogel (XKPC) relying on colloidal interface synergy between flower-like CuCo2O4 nanozyme and polydopamine (PDA) for NIR-augmented catalytic-photothermal combinational therapy of infected diabetic wounds. The hydrogel incorporates loofah-like CuCo2O4 nanozymes with quadruple enzyme-mimetic activities, glucose oxidase-like (GOx), peroxidase-like (POD), superoxide dismutase-like (SOD) and catalase-like (CAT), which initiate cascade reactions to regulate glucose, eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS), and generate oxygen. Under near-infrared irradiation, polydopamine further boosts antibacterial efficacy and catalytic activity. This system stably adheres to wounds, enables effective bacterial elimination, promotes angiogenesis, and drives M1 to M2 macrophage polarization to reconstruct a pro-healing microenvironment. In vivo results confirm accelerated full-thickness wound closure in diabetic rats, demonstrating promising potential for treating diabetic wounds and other oxidative stress- and infection-related disorders.