A Versatile Composite Hydrogel with Spatiotemporal Drug Delivery of Mesoporous ZnO and Recombinant Human Collagen for Diabetic Infected Wound Healing

Diabetic wounds are increasingly common and challenging to treat due to high infection risks in a high-glucose environment. Effective treatment requires wound dressings that combat infections, while promoting angiogenesis and skin regeneration. This study presents a hydrogel-based drug delivery system made from cellulose designed to accelerate diabetic wound healing by eliminating bacterial infections. The hydrogel, formed by linking phenylboronic acid-grafted oxidized methylcellulose (POMC) with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), exhibits self-healing and injectable properties. It is further enhanced by adding type I recombinant human collagen (rhCOL1) to stimulate cell growth and angiogenesis and mesoporous zinc oxide (mZnO) for antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Upon application, the hydrogel degrades under pH/ROS stimuli, releasing mZnO and rhCOL1 in a controlled manner that matches the wound healing stages. In vivo tests show that the hydrogel effectively eliminates bacteria, reduces inflammation, and promotes rapid skin regeneration, making it a promising solution for treating diabetic wounds.