Sandwich-Structured Nanofiber Dressings Containing MgB₂ and Metformin Hydrochloride With ROS Scavenging and Antibacterial Properties for Wound Healing in Diabetic Infections.

Abstract

The treatment of chronic diabetic wounds is a major challenge due to oxidative stress, persistent hyperglycemia, and susceptibility to bacterial infection. In this study, multifunctional sandwich-structured nanofiber dressings (SNDs) are prepared via electrospinning. The SNDs consisted of an outer layer of hydrophobic polylactic acid (PLA) fibers encapsulating MgB₂ nanosheets (MgB₂ NSs), a middle layer of PLA and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) fibers encapsulating the MgB₂ NSs and metformin hydrochloride complex (MgB₂-Met), and an inner layer of water-soluble PVP fibers encapsulating MgB₂-Met. Because of their special sandwich structure, SNDs have high photothermal conversion efficiency (24.13%) and photothermal cycle performance. SNDs also exhibit a photothermal effect, bacteria-targeting effect of MgB₂, electrostatic attraction ability of metformin hydrochloride (Met), and strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). SNDs can eliminate intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) by regulating the hydrogen release from MgB₂. In addition, SNDs have good biocompatibility, can effectively inhibit the inflammatory factor Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and promote granulation tissue formation, collagen deposition, and diabetic wound healing. These findings offer a promising approach for clinical treatment of diabetic wounds.