An All-in-One Nanoplatform for Synergistic Anti-Infection and Healing of Diabetic Wounds via Photothermal-Gas Therapy.

Diabetic wounds represent a significant clinical challenge, characterized by bacterial biofilm formation, persistent inflammation, and oxidative stress. Although photothermal therapy (PTT) and gas therapy (e.g., CO, H2) are promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics, existing monotherapeutic strategies fail to address the multifactorial pathological characteristics of these wounds, which is a critical research gap. To fill this gap, an integrated multimodal nanoplatform (CO/AB@MPDA) by co-loading dodecacarbonyltriiron (FeCO, a CO donor) and ammonia borane (AB, a H2 donor) into mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) carriers was developed. The innovation lied in its synergistic design. It enabled near-infrared (NIR)-triggered CO release and pH-responsive H2 generation, simultaneously targeting infections, inflammation, and microenvironment dysregulation. In vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed its potent antibacterial/biofilm-disrupting activity, high biosafety, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, anti-inflammatory properties, as well as superior ability to accelerate diabetic infected wound healing. In summary, the CO/AB@MPDA nanosystem overcomes the limitations of monomodal therapies through synergistic PTT-gas therapy, providing an innovative and comprehensive therapeutic strategy for diabetic wound infections.