Functional molecule-mediated assembled copper nanozymes for diabetic wound healing

BACKGROUND: The complex hyperglycemic, hypoxic, and reactive oxygen species microenvironment of diabetic wound leads to vascular defects and bacterial growth and current treatment options are relatively limited by their poor efficacy. RESULTS: Herein, a functional molecule-mediated copper ions co-assembled strategy was constructed for collaborative treatment of diabetic wounds. Firstly, a functional small molecule 2,5-dimercaptoterephthalic acid (DCA) which has symmetrical carboxyl and sulfhydryl structure, was selected for the first time to assisted co-assembly of copper ions to produce multifunctional nanozymes (Cu-DCA NZs). Secondly, the Cu-DCA NZs have excellent multicatalytic activity, and photothermal response under 808 nm irradiation. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that it not only could efficiently inhibit bacterial growth though photothermal therapy, but also could catalyze the conversion of intracellular hydrogen peroxide to oxygen which relieves wound hypoxia and improving inflammatory accumulation. More importantly, the slow release of copper ions could accelerate cellular proliferation, migration and angiogenesis, synergistically promote the healing of diabetic wound furtherly. CONCLUSIONS: The above results indicate that this multifunctional nanozymes Cu-DCA NZs may be a potential nanotherapeutic strategy for diabetic wound healing. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-023-02048-1.