Synergizing Antibacterial and Immune Regulation Activities of Dextran Coated Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles for Treating Diabetic Wound

Abstract

Diabetic wounds, characterized by recurrent infections, drug resistance, and immunosuppression, pose a formidable clinical challenge which can hardly be adequately managed by conventional antibiotics. Herein, we present dextran-functionalized cerium oxide nanoparticles (Dex-CeNPs) to cure bacterial infected diabetic wounds. The Dex-CeNPs not only had excellent antibacterial activity, but also promoted the shift of macrophages from the proinflammatory M1 phenotype to the proregenerative M2 phenotype. By synergizing the antibacterial activity and immune modulating activity, the Dex-CeNPs promoted the healing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-infected diabetic wound and prevented infection recurrence in mice. Our study provides a strategy for treating intractable diabetic wounds.

Note:
Funding declaration: This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province of China (20242BAB20088), National Natural Science Foundation of China (22304065); the Project of Academic and Technical Leaders in Major Disciplines in Jiangxi Province (20243BCE51158); Science and Technology Project of Education Department of Jiangxi Province of China (GJJ2200963); Doctor Start-up Fund of Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine (2022BSZR009) and Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine School-level Science and Technology Innovation Team Development Program (CXTD22005).

Conflict of Interests: Authors disclaim any financial conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval: All animal experiments were performed under the guidelines outlined in the "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals" and received approval from the Committee for Animal Research of the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (ACUC, NCNST).

Keywords: Cerium oxide nanoparticles, Antibacterial effect, Immune activation, MRSA infection, diabetic wound