Angiogenic Peptide Nanofibers Improve Wound Healing in STZ-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Low expressions of angiogenic growth factors delay the healing of diabetic wounds by interfering with the process of blood vessel formation. Heparin mimetic peptide nanofibers can bind to and enhance production and activity of major angiogenic growth factors, including VEGF. In this study, we showed that heparin mimetic peptide nanofibers can serve as angiogenic scaffolds that allow slow release of growth factors and protect them from degradation, providing a new therapeutic way to accelerate healing of diabetic wounds. We treated wounds in STZ-induced diabetic rats with heparin mimetic peptide nanofibers and studied repair of full-thickness diabetic skin wounds. Wound recovery was quantified by analyses of reepithelialization, granulation tissue formation and blood vessel density, as well as VEGF and inflammatory response measurements. Wound closure and granulation tissue formation were found to be significantly accelerated in heparin mimetic gel treated groups. In addition, blood vessel counts and the expressions of alpha smooth muscle actin and VEGF were significantly higher in bioactive gel treated animals. These results strongly suggest that angiogenic heparin mimetic nanofiber therapy can be used to support the impaired healing process in diabetic wounds.

Wound-Healing Peptides for Treatment of Chronic Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Other Infected Skin Injuries

“…These findings motivated Senturk et al to test the ability of hmPA-based gels to heal diabetic wounds, in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice; results confirmed the bioactive gels to have a key role in both inflammation and proliferation phases of wound-healing, by promoting angiogenesis, re-epithelialization and inflammatory response [ 77 ].…”

<p>Potential Applications of Nanomaterials and Technology for Diabetic Wound Healing</p>

“… [ 80 ] Heparin mimetic peptide amphiphiles Nanofibers Enhance production and activity of major angiogenic growth factors (VEGF). [ 84 ] DMOG PCL fiber meshes Reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1β,IL-6, and TNF-α), increasing anti-inflammatory factors (TGF-β1 and IL-4) and GFs (IGF-1, HB-EGF, NGF, and bFGF), and promoting angiogenesis (CD-31 and VEGF-α). [ 86 ] K 2 (SL) 6 K 2 MDP hydrogels Allowing rapid cellular infiltration, and thus are ideal for tissue engineering strategies.…”

Electrospun Nanofibers for Improved Angiogenesis: Promises for Tissue Engineering Applications

“…Diabetic wounds usually suffer from an impaired wound healing process owing to the vascular impairment resulting from the delayed secretion of pro-angiogenic factors as well as reduced proliferation and migration of ECs and tissue re-epithelialization [255][256][257][258]. In this regard, many researchers have made significant attempts to develop an efficient pro-angiogenic wound dressing for accelerating diabetic wound healing and tackling this important societal and clinical challenge [133,259]. In 2018, Ren et al reported the successful fabrication of electrospun fibrous membranes made of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) containing dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG)-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DS) for potential usage in diabetic wound healing [260].…”