Acceleration of Oral Wound Healing under Diabetes Mellitus Conditions Using Bioadhesive Hydrogel

Oral wounds under diabetic conditions display a significant delay during the healing process, mainly due to oxidative stress-induced inflammatory status and abnormal immune responses. Besides, the wet and complicated dynamic environment of the oral cavity impedes stable treatment of oral wounds. To overcome these, a biomimetic hydrogel adhesive was innovatively developed based on a mussel-inspired multifunctional structure. The adhesive displays efficient adhesion and mechanical harmony on the oral mucosa through enhanced bonding in an acidic proinflammatory environment. The bioadhesive hydrogel exhibits excellent antioxidative properties by mimicking antioxidative enzymatic activities to reverse reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated immune disorders. Experiments on oral wounds of diabetic rats showed that this hydrogel adhesive could effectively protect against mucosal wounds and obviously shorten the inflammatory phase, thus promoting the wound-healing process. Therefore, this study offers a promising therapeutic choice with the potential to advance the clinical treatment of diabetic oral wounds.

Automated summary

Oral wounds under diabetic conditions exhibit delayed healing due to oxidative stress-induced inflammation and abnormal immune responses. Additionally, the dynamic and wet oral cavity environment complicates stable treatment. To address these challenges, a biomimetic hydrogel adhesive inspired by mussels was developed. This adhesive demonstrates excellent adhesion and mechanical compatibility on oral mucosa in an acidic proinflammatory environment. It also exhibits antioxidative properties by mimicking enzymatic activities to counteract reactive oxygen species-mediated immune disorders. Experimental results on diabetic rat oral wounds showed that this hydrogel adhesive effectively protects against mucosal wounds and accelerates the inflammatory phase, thus promoting wound healing. This study offers a promising therapeutic option to improve the clinical treatment of diabetic oral wounds.