A multifunctional ZIF-8@CuO/collagen-binding peptide hydrogel for photothermal-enhanced antibacterial and infected skin wound management.
- 1Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University Yatai Street 4026, Nanguan District Changchun 130022 Jilin Province China [email protected].
Abstract
Owing to continuous bacterial proliferation, a persistent inflammatory response, and impaired vascularization, infected skin wounds remain a major clinical challenge. Herein, we fabricated a multifunctional skin-repair material by incorporating ZIF-8@CuO nanoparticles and a collagen-binding vascular endothelial growth factor mimetic peptide (C-VEGFMP) into a gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel. The ZIF-8@CuO nanoparticles were prepared by controllably depositing copper oxide (CuO) onto the surface of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8). ZIF-8@CuO can endowed the hydrogel with potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities, as well as efficient near-infrared (NIR) photothermal conversion capability. C-VEGFMP was constructed by introducing a collagen-binding sequence into the VEGFMP. This modified peptide can stably anchor to GelMA and maintain its bioactivity at the hydrogel-tissue interface. The resulting ZIF-8@CuO/C-VEGFMP hydrogel exhibited favorable cytocompatibility, broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and prominent pro-angiogenic performance. Upon NIR irradiation, the photothermal effect of ZIF-8@CuO can synergistically eradicate pathogenic bacteria, thereby enhancing photothermal therapeutic efficacy. In addition, the sustained presence of bioactive C-VEGFMP promoted epithelial regeneration, collagen deposition, and neovascularization in infected full-thickness wounds. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that treatment with ZIF-8@CuO/C-VEGFMP under NIR irradiation exerted anti-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic and tissue-repair effects mainly by upregulating thrombomodulin (THBD) and Ets proto-oncogene 2 (Ets2) genes. This study provides a multifunctional strategy that combines nanoparticle-mediated photothermal antibacterial effects with functionalized peptides, offering a promising therapeutic modality for the management of infected skin injuries.
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BibTeX
@article{li2026multifunctional,
title = {{A multifunctional ZIF-8@CuO/collagen-binding peptide hydrogel for photothermal-enhanced antibacterial and infected skin wound management.}},
author = {Shengyang Li and Renfeng Zhang and Haorui Du and Hanwen Yang and Su Pan},
journal = {RSC advances},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1039/d6ra06950a},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42852251},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A multifunctional ZIF-8@CuO/collagen-binding peptide hydrogel for photothermal-enhanced antibacterial and infected skin wound management.
AU - Shengyang Li
AU - Renfeng Zhang
AU - Haorui Du
AU - Hanwen Yang
AU - Su Pan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/08
JO - RSC advances
DO - 10.1039/d6ra06950a
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42852251
AB - Owing to continuous bacterial proliferation, a persistent inflammatory response, and impaired vascularization, infected skin wounds remain a major clinical challenge. Herein, we fabricated a multifunctional skin-repair material by incorporating ZIF-8@CuO nanoparticles and a collagen-binding vascular endothelial growth factor mimetic peptide (C-VEGFMP) into a gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel. The ZIF-8@CuO nanoparticles were prepared by controllably depositing copper oxide (CuO) onto the surface of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8). ZIF-8@CuO can endowed the hydrogel with potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities, as well as efficient near-infrared (NIR) photothermal conversion capability. C-VEGFMP was constructed by introducing a collagen-binding sequence into the VEGFMP. This modified peptide can stably anchor to GelMA and maintain its bioactivity at the hydrogel-tissue interface. The resulting ZIF-8@CuO/C-VEGFMP hydrogel exhibited favorable cytocompatibility, broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and prominent pro-angiogenic performance. Upon NIR irradiation, the photothermal effect of ZIF-8@CuO can synergistically eradicate pathogenic bacteria, thereby enhancing photothermal therapeutic efficacy. In addition, the sustained presence of bioactive C-VEGFMP promoted epithelial regeneration, collagen deposition, and neovascularization in infected full-thickness wounds. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that treatment with ZIF-8@CuO/C-VEGFMP under NIR irradiation exerted anti-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic and tissue-repair effects mainly by upregulating thrombomodulin (THBD) and Ets proto-oncogene 2 (Ets2) genes. This study provides a multifunctional strategy that combines nanoparticle-mediated photothermal antibacterial effects with functionalized peptides, offering a promising therapeutic modality for the management of infected skin injuries.
SN - 2046-2069
ER -