A bioactive multifunctional dressing with simultaneous visible monitoring of pH values and H2O2 concentrations for promoting diabetic wound healing

Abstract

Wound healing in diabetes is a complex physiological process with risks of ulceration and amputation. Real-time monitoring and treatment of diabetic wounds is an effective prevention of further deterioration. Herein, a multifunctional dressing is developed by encapsulating europium-containing bioactive glass (EuBG) and MoO_3−x in a biocompatible sodium alginate (SA) dressing (MoO_3−x–EuBG–SA), aiming to simultaneously monitor the wound pH value and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentration, establish an anti-inflammatory microenvironment, and promote wound healing. The pH-responsive fluorescence quenching effect of EuBG contributes to visible monitoring of pH values, and MoO_3−x enables high responsiveness and accurate colorimetric indication of H₂O₂ variability to understand the dynamic wound status. Then, these fluorescent and colorimetric changes can be captured using a smartphone and transformed into signals for wound pH values and H₂O₂ concentrations, enabling rapid and convenient real-time assessment of wound dynamics. Furthermore, the MoO_3−x–EuBG–SA dressing can reduce inflammation and promote the proliferation, differentiation, and migration of fibroblasts and endothelial cells in vitro with the help of the released bioactive Si, Ca, and Mo ions. Notably, the MoO_3−x–EuBG–SA dressing exhibits excellent abilities to monitor a wound microenvironment and immune regulation and promote diabetic wound healing in vivo. Overall, the multifunctional dressing has great potential for managing diabetic wounds and promoting wound healing.