DNA-Based Nanocarriers for Extended Release of NZ2114 Peptide and Epidermal Growth Factors in Chronic Wound Healing

Abstract

Chronic wounds, often accompanied by bacterial infection, pose significant clinical challenges. Recognizing this, there has been a growing interest in leveraging nucleic acids as intelligent materials for targeted cargo delivery. Herein, we introduced a pioneering method for encapsulating the anti-S. aureus peptide NZ2114 and epidermal growth factors (EGF) within crosslinked DNA nanomaterials, creating biodegradable and biocompatible antimicrobial agents with high efficacy. Our research validated that the NZ2114-EGF-Gel could exhibit a specific inhibitory effect on S. aureus growth while simultaneously accelerating human dermal fibroblasts’ proliferation. The crosslinked DNA nanostructures demonstrate an enhanced capacity to promote wound therapy rates during in vivo treatment. These findings present a prospective avenue for facilitating therapeutic wound healing.