Fig. 4

Efficiency of PTMHs for the healing of mouse diabetic wounds with P. aeruginosa infection. (A) Schematic of the experimental design for the therapeutic effect evaluation of PTMH in mouse STZ-induced diabetic wounds with P. aeruginosa infection. (B) Digital images of diabetic wounds at various time intervals, with a blue disc measuring 6 millimeters in diameter for scale reference. (C) Schematic images of diabetic wounds under different treatments. (D) The proportions of wound healing achieved through various treatment on days 0, 3, 7, and 14 (n = 5). (E) Area percentages of closed wounds. (F) Ultimate healing time of each group. (G) Representative histological images of H&E staining in the wound site on day 14. Black arrows represent the thickness of the granulation tissue. (Scale bar: 100 μm) (H) Statistical analysis of the thickness of the granulation tissue. (I) The images of Masson’s trichrome staining in diabetic wounds through various treatment. (Scale bar: 100 μm) (J) Statistical analysis of the percentage of collagen volume fraction. (K) Images and (L) quantitative counts of bacterial colonies formed by P. aeruginosa harvested from wound tissues at various time intervals. Data in E, F, H, J, and L represent the mean ± standard deviation (n = 5). *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; n.s., no significance; one-way ANOVA. SA, sodium alginate; PNIPAM, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide); PTMH, programmed time-released multifunctional hydrogel; P. aeruginosa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; STZ, streptozotocin; ANOVA, analysis of variance; CFU, colony-forming unit; H&E, hematoxylin and eosin