Diabetic wounds are serious complications caused by diabetes mellitus (DM), which are further exacerbated by angiogenesis disorders and prolonged inflammation. Injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF) is rich in growth factors (GFs) and has been used for the repair and regeneration of diabetic wounds; however, direct application of i-PRF has certain disadvantages, including the instability of the bioactive molecules. Sericin hydrogel, fabricated by silkworm-derived sericin, is a biocompatible material that has anti-inflammatory and healing-promoting properties. Therefore, in this study, we developed a novel hydrogel (named sericin/i-PRF hydrogel) using a simple one-step activation method. The in vitro studies showed that the rapid injectability of the sericin/i-PRF hydrogel allows it to adapt to the irregular shape of the wounds. Additionally, sericin hydrogel could prolong the release of i-PRF-derived bioactive GFs in the sericin/i-PRF hydrogel. Furthermore, sericin/i-PRF hydrogel effectively repaired diabetic wounds, promoted angiogenesis, and reduced inflammation levels in the diabetic wounds of nude mice. These results demonstrate that the sericin/i-PRF hydrogel is a promising agent for diabetic wound healing.

Introduction: Astaxanthin (AST) is a type of carotenoid with strong antioxidant effects. However, the development and use of AST are limited by its water insolubility and low bioavailability. This study aims to investigate whether AST@PLGA can inhibit UC and reveal its possible mechanism.Methods: We tested the particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential of AST@PLGA. Then, the in vitro release and antioxidant capacity of AST@PLGA were tested. Finally, the mouse model of colitis was established and SOD, MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and P38 as well as ERK were detected from mice.Results: Particle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential of AST @PLGA were 66.78 ± 0.64 nm, 0.247 and -9.8 ± 0.53 mV, respectively, and were stable within 14 days. Then, it was observed that the AST@PLGA nanoparticles not only maintained the effect of AST but also had a sustained release effect. Experiments in mice showed that AST@PLGA effectively reduced MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 levels and increased SOD levels. AST@PLGA also downregulated the protein expression of P38 and ERK. The results showed the positive protective effect of AST@PLGA in inhibiting acute colitis.Discussion: AST@PLGA nanoparticles have good stability and alleviating effect in colitis, which could be functional foods in the future.

Wound healing in diabetics is often impaired or delayed due to the presence of high reactive oxygen species and low antioxidant levels. Here, a sericin-honey semi-interpenetrating network hydrogel with excellent antioxidant activity was prepared. Besides, the sericin-honey hydrogel is transparent, injectable, sticky, highly porous, and has good swelling properties, antibacterial activity, and cell compatibility. Based on its good performance in vitro, sericin-honey hydrogel achieved effective in vivo treatment on a mouse diabetic wound model, significantly accelerating the wound healing process. Furthermore, the combined effect of feeding sericin solution played a positive role in strengthening the effect of diabetic wound repair.

To evaluate the effect of glutamine supplement on patients with burns, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis via synthesizing up-to-date studies. Databases including PubMed, Cochrane Central Register, EMBASE, and Google scholar, Wanfang data, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched up to Oct, 2023 to find randomized trials evaluating glutamine supplement on patients with burns. Main outcomes included hospital stay, in hospital mortality, infection, and wound healing. Twenty-two trials which randomized a total of 2,170 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled the length of hospital stay was shortened by glutamine supplement (WMD = -7.95, 95%CI -10.53 to -5.36, I² = 67.9%, 16 trials)). Both pooled wound healing rates (WMD = 9.15, 95%CI 6.30 to 12.01, I² = 82.7%, six studies) and wound healing times (WMD = -5.84, 95%CI -7.42 to -4.27, I² = 45.7%, seven studies) were improved by glutamine supplement. Moreover, glutamine supplement reduced wound infection (RR = 0.38, 95%CI 0.21 to 0.69, I² = 0%, three trials), but not non-wound infection (RR = 0.88, 95%CI 0.73 to 1.05, I² = 39.6%, 9 trials). Neither in hospital mortality (RR = 0.95, 95%CI 0.74 to 1.22, I² = 36.0%, eight trials) nor the length of ICU stay (WMD = 1.85, 95%CI -7.24 to 10.93, I² = 78.2%, five studies) was improved by glutamine supplement. Subgroup analysis showed positive effects were either influenced by or based on small-scale, single center studies. Based on the current available data, we do not recommend routine use of glutamine supplement for burn patients in hospital. Future large-scale randomized trials are still needed to give a conclusion about the effect of glutamine supplement on burn patients.