Novel Temperature‐Sensitive Hydrogel Promotes Wound Healing Through YAP and MEK‐Mediated Mechanosensitivity

• Published in: Advanced healthcare materials Vol. 11; no. 23; pp. e2201878 - n/a
• Main Authors: Li, Ze, Huang, Jinjian, Jiang, Yungang, Liu, Ye, Qu, Guiwen, Chen, Kang, Zhao, Yun, Wang, Peige, Wu, Xiuwen, Ren, Jianan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.12.2022
• Subjects: contraction; hydrogels; Hydrogels - pharmacology; MEK; temperature‐sensitive hydrogels; wound healing; YAP; YAP; contraction; MEK; wound healing; hydrogels; temperature-sensitive hydrogels
• ISSN: 2192-2640; 2192-2659
• DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202201878

Wound healing is a significant problem in clinical management. Various functional dressings are studied to promote wound healing through biochemical factors. They are generally expensive, complex to fabricate, and may adversely affect the wound. Mechanical forces are the critical regulators of tissue repair. Although contraction is shown to promote wound healing, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, a novel adhesive temperature‐sensitive mechanically active hydrogel with a simple and inexpensive preparation process is developed. The dressing is able to adhere to the wound surface and actively contract the wound in response to body temperature. This mechanical contraction enhances the proliferative activity of basal cells, reduces the inflammatory response of the wound, and promotes wound healing. Furthermore, RNA‐seq clarifies how the gene regulatory network is regulated by contraction. Finally, using pharmacological inhibitors, YAP and MEK are identified as the key signaling molecules for contraction‐mediated tissue healing in vivo. A novel viscous temperature‐sensitive mechanoactive hydrogel is designed, optimized, and characterized. Mechanical contraction is capable of promoting wound healing by enhancing the proliferative activity of basal cells. The typical mechanically stimulated transducers (YAP and MEK) are indispensable in the mechanical contraction‐mediated wound healing process.