Symbiotic Algae-Bacteria Dressing for Producing Hydrogen to Accelerate Diabetic Wound Healing.

Abstract

Oxidative stress arising from hyperglycemia and chronic inflammation impairs diabetic wound repair, often progressing to foot ulcers. Conventional hydrogen delivery formats—gas, hydrogen-rich water, and saline—suffer from rapid dissipation due to low gas solubility. To address this limitation, a living microbe-based hydrogel was constructed by encapsulating algae and bacteria within a cell-impermeable matrix, enabling continuous hydrogen generation for up to 60 hours. The system demonstrated selective scavenging of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻), along with suppression of inflammatory responses. In diabetic wound models, the dressing promoted cell proliferation and improved wound closure by approximately 50% by day 3 compared to controls. The algae-bacteria symbiotic hydrogel exhibited favorable biocompatibility and sustained reactive oxygen species neutralization capacity, supporting its potential for clinical wound management.

Mechanism

The symbiotic algae-bacteria hydrogel continuously generates hydrogen for 60 hours, selectively neutralizing hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite, thereby reducing oxidative stress and inflammation to promote diabetic wound healing.