title: Sundew-Inspired Adhesive Hydrogels Combined with Adipose-Derived Stem Cells for Wound Healing.
abstract: The potential to harness the unique physical, chemical, and biological properties of the sundew (Drosera) plant's adhesive hydrogels has long intrigued researchers searching for novel wound-healing applications. However, the ability to collect sufficient quantities of the sundew plant's adhesive hydrogels is problematic and has eclipsed their therapeutic promise. Inspired by these natural hydrogels, we asked if sundew-inspired adhesive hydrogels could overcome the drawbacks associated with natural sundew hydrogels and be used in combination with stem-cell-based therapy to enhance wound-healing therapeutics. Using a bioinspired approach, we synthesized adhesive hydrogels comprised of sodium alginate, gum arabic, and calcium ions to mimic the properties of the natural sundew-derived adhesive hydrogels. We then characterized and showed that these sundew-inspired hydrogels promote wound healing through their superior adhesive strength, nanostructure, and resistance to shearing when compared to other hydrogels in vitro. In vivo, sundew-inspired hydrogels promoted a "suturing" effect to wound sites, which was demonstrated by enhanced wound closure following topical application of the hydrogels. In combination with mouse adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and compared to other therapeutic biomaterials, the sundew-inspired hydrogels demonstrated superior wound-healing capabilities. Collectively, our studies show that sundew-inspired hydrogels contain ideal properties that promote wound healing and suggest that sundew-inspired-ADSCs combination therapy is an efficacious approach for treating wounds without eliciting noticeable toxicity or inflammation.
authors.forename: Leming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yujian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Zehua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petrosino
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Yongzhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ki Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory , Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433-7901, United States.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galster
authors.forename: Jianjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Mingjun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000269:Adhesives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002469:Cell Separation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D029787:Drosera / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000269:Adhesives; D020100:Hydrogels
keywords: ADSCs; adhesive hydrogels; bioinspiration; sundew adhesive; wound healing