Oxygen Atom-Concentrating Short Fibrous Sponge Regulates Cellular Respiration for Wound Healing

Cellular respiration can provide energy for wound healing. However, some of retarded healing processes in local hyperglycemic environment suffer from a decrease in cellular adaptation to oxygen, thus reducing in situ oxidative metabolism. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) extracellular matrix (ECM) bionic short fibrous sponge was prepared for chronic diabetic wound healing and effectively regulated cellular respiration by enhancing cellular adaptation to oxygen and remolding the local tissue microenvironment. The 3D bionic sponge scaffold exhibited good cell adhesion, biocompatibility, bioactivity, and, most importantly, aggregated oxygen atoms on the graphene oxide (GO) surface. In an in vitro assay, the oxygen atom-concentrating short fibrous sponge activated monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), induced the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and effectively promoted angiogenesis in a hyperglycemic environment. The sponge was also applied to diabetic wounds in vivo to verify its roles in the promotion of angiogenesis and collagen deposition. These experiments confirmed the synergistic effect of GO with adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), which could further promote diabetic wound healing. Therefore, oxygen atom-concentrating short fibrous sponges that regulate cellular respiration provide a new idea for the repair of poorly healing wounds by improving oxidative metabolism and have importantclinical significance. Graphical abstract The oxygen-rich characteristics of short fibrous sponges with aggregational oxygen atoms can optimize the water absorption performance of short fibers, effectively regulate cell respiration and improve tissue oxidation metabolism by improving the ability of cells to adapt to oxygen, and provide important application value for tissue damage repair in collaboration with ADSCs.