Chitosan hydrogel loaded with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes promotes healing of chronic diabetic wounds in rats
QIU Xiaohui
WANG Meng
TANG Jiangjie
ZHOU Jianda
JIN Chen
Abstract：Objective To investigate the mechanism by which chitosan(CS)hydrogel loaded with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell(HUVECs)-derived exosomes(hUCMSC-exos)(Exos@CS-Gel)improves diabetic wound healing.Methods hUCMSC-exos were extracted and Exos@CS-Gel was prepared.The effect of Exos@CS-Gel on proliferation and migration of HUVECs were evaluated using scratch wound assay and CCK-8 assay.Diabetic rat models with full-thickness skin wounds established by streptozotocin induction were randomized divided into 4 groups for treatment with Exos@CS-Gel(100 µg hUCMSC-exos dissolved in 100 µL 24%CS hydrogel),hUCMSC-exos(100 µg hUCMSC-exos dissolved in 100 µL PBS),CS hydrogel(100 µL 24%CS hydrogel),or PBS(control group).Wound healing and the therapeutic mechanisms were assessed using immunohistochemistry,HE staining,immunofluorescence,and qRT-PCR.Results In cultured HUVECs,Exos@CS-Gel treatment significantly promoted cell proliferation and migration.In the rat models of chronic diabetic wounds,the wound healing rate in Exos@CS-Gel group reached 92.7%on day 14,significantly higher than those in hUCMSC-exos group(9.12%),CS hydrogel group(16.28%),and control group(25.98%).Microvessel density and the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor β-1 were significantly increased in the Exos@CS-Gel group.Conclusion Exos@CS-Gel promotes survival capacity of hUCMSC-exos in vitro and accelerates diabetic wound healing in rats by promoting angiogenesis and cell proliferation.
Keywords：angiogenesisdiabetic woundexosomesmesenchymal stem cellschitosanhydrogel
Publication Date：2025-10-20
Online Publishing Date：2025-11-03(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：10( 2082-2091 )