Donut-like MOFs of copper/nicotinic acid and composite hydrogels with superior bioactivity for rh-bFGF delivering and skin wound healing

Abstract

Abstract Background Skin injury and the resultant defects are common clinical problems, and usually lead to chronic skin ulcers and even life-threatening diseases. Copper, an essential trace element of human body, has been reported to promote the regeneration of skin by stimulating proliferation of endothelial cell and enhance angiogenesis. Results Herein, we have prepared a new donut-like metal–organic frameworks (MOF) of copper-nicotinic acid (CuNA) by a simple solvothermal reaction. The rough surface of CuNA is beneficial for loading/release basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). The CuNAs with/without bFGF are easily processed into a light-responsive composite hydrogel with GelMA, which not only show excellent mechanical properties, but also display superior biocompatibility, antibacterial ability and bioactivity. Moreover, in the in vivo full-thickness defect model of skin wound, the resultant CuNA-bFGF@GelMA hydrogels significantly accelerate the wound healing, by simultaneously inhibiting the inflammatory response, promoting the new blood vessels formation and the deposition of collagen and elastic fibers. Conclusions Considering the superior biocompatibility, antibacterial ability and bioactivity, the CuNA and its composite light-responsive hydrogel system will be promising in the applications of skin and even other tissue regeneration. Graphic abstract

Keywords

• Wound healing
• Tissue regeneration
• Metal–organic frameworks
• Copper
• Hydrogel