# Hydrogels for treating chronic wounds: a multi-pronged approach

> **NIH NIH SC3** · HERBERT H. LEHMAN COLLEGE · 2022 · $110,798

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Chronic leg and foot ulcers are considerably slow healing, lasting on average 12
to 13 months. They are commonly associated with systemic diseases and
conditions with impaired wound healing such as diabetes and vascular disease.
For example, diabetic leg ulcers are an example of a difficult to heal chronic
wound associated with diabetes and venous leg ulcers are a chronic wound
attributed to poor blood circulation. A hallmark of these chronic wounds is out of
balance inflammation caused by elevated levels of proteases, reactive oxidative
species (ROS) and instances of infection. Herein is proposed the design and
evaluation of hydrogels that target multiple aspects of a toxic inflammatory
process. These hydrogels are designed to counteract the high levels of ROS,
proteolytic activity and microbial infection present in chronic wounds. Hydrogels
comprised of polydopamine and curcumin will be developed to impart antioxidant
activity. Various strategies will be examined to counteract proteolytic matrix
metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. Zn2+ is responsible for the catalytic activity of
MMP and binding the metal is a well-established method to reduce its proteolytic
activity. Curcumin is an antioxidant with zinc chelation ability that has been
shown to reduce MMP activity and improve wound healing. We will synthesize
water-soluble degradable curcumin polymers for incorporation within hydrogels.
We propose these curcumin hydrogels will lower ROS and MMP activity.
Polydopamine will be used to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) within the
hydrogels. AgNPs are well known for their antimicrobial properties but have also
been demonstrated to inhibit MMP. A third strategy is to chemically modify
hydrogels with bisphosphonate MMP inhibitors. On the other hand, agents that
promote cell proliferation are also shown to accelerate the healing process. We
will examine the effect of releasing 2-deoxy-D-ribose and melatonin, compounds
shown to promote proliferative processes while the hydrogel concurrently
suppresses inflammation.
Keywords. Hydrogels, chronic wounds, antimicrobial, wound healing, matrix
metalloproteinase

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10458596
- **Project number:** 5SC3GM111194-07
- **Recipient organization:** HERBERT H. LEHMAN COLLEGE
- **Principal Investigator:** Naphtali Andre O'Connor
- **Activity code:** SC3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $110,798
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2015-05-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10458596

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10458596, Hydrogels for treating chronic wounds: a multi-pronged approach (5SC3GM111194-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10458596. Licensed CC0.

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