Synergistic Enhancement of Targeted Wound Healing by Near-Infrared Photodynamic Therapy and Silver Metal–Organic Frameworks Combined with S- or N-Doped Carbon Dots
Maja D. Nešić,
Iva A. Popović,
Jelena Žakula,
Lela Korićanac,
Jelena Filipović Tričković,
Ana Valenta Šobot,
Maria Victoria Jiménez,
Manuel Algarra,
Tanja Dučić,
Milutin Stepić
Affiliations
Maja D. Nešić
Center for Light-Based Research and Technologies COHERENCE, Department of Atomic Physics, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Iva A. Popović
Center for Light-Based Research and Technologies COHERENCE, Department of Atomic Physics, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Jelena Žakula
Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Lela Korićanac
Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Jelena Filipović Tričković
Department of Physical Chemistry, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Ana Valenta Šobot
Department of Physical Chemistry, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Maria Victoria Jiménez
Maria Inmaculada School, 29200 Antequera, Spain
Manuel Algarra
Department of Science, INAMAT<sup>2</sup>—Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics, Public University of Navarra, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
Tanja Dučić
MIRAS Beamline, ALBA-CELLS Synchrotron, 08290 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
Milutin Stepić
Center for Light-Based Research and Technologies COHERENCE, Department of Atomic Physics, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
The literature data emphasize that nanoparticles might improve the beneficial effects of near-infrared light (NIR) on wound healing. This study investigates the mechanisms of the synergistic wound healing potential of NIR light and silver metal–organic frameworks combined with nitrogen- and sulfur-doped carbon dots (AgMOFsN-CDs and AgMOFsS-CDs, respectively), which was conducted by testing the fibroblasts viability, scratch assays, biochemical analysis, and synchrotron-based Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR) cell spectroscopy and imaging. Our findings reveal that the combined treatment of AgMOFsN-CDs and NIR light significantly increases cell viability to nearly 150% and promotes cell proliferation, with reduced interleukin-1 levels, suggesting an anti-inflammatory response. SR-FTIR spectroscopy shows this combined treatment results in unique protein alterations, including increased α-helix structures and reduced cross-β. Additionally, protein synthesis was enhanced upon the combined treatment. The likely mechanism behind the observed changes is the charge-specific interaction of N-CDs from the AgMOFsN-CDs with proteins, enhanced by NIR light due to the nanocomposite’s optical characteristics. Remarkably, the complete wound closure in the in vitro scratch assay was achieved exclusively with the combined NIR and AgMOFsN-CDs treatment, demonstrating the promising application of combined AgMOFsN-CDs with NIR light photodynamic therapy in regenerative nanomedicine and tissue engineering.
