Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology · Feb 19, 2026

Metformin-loaded J-AuPPS for infected diabetic wound treatment

By Yin F, Yang L, Shan H et al.

INTRODUCTION: Infected diabetic wounds pose a significant clinical challenge owing to the complex wound microenvironment. Various multifunctional synergistic therapeutic nanomaterials have been successfully developed to treat diabetic infected wounds. OBJECTIVE: A Janus Au-porphyrin polymersome heterostructure loaded with metformin (Met@J-AuPPS) is constructed and presented. METHODS: Porphyrin polymersome vesicles loaded with metformin (Met@PPS) was synthesized by supramolecular polymerization enhanced self-assembly. Metformin-loaded Janus gold-porphyrin polymersome (Met@J-AuPPS) was synthesized by photocatalytic synthesis method. Transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), UV-vis absorption spectrum and ELISA experiment were used to detect the morphology, structure, photothermal properties and drug release properties of Met@J-AuPPS. The effects of Met@J-AuPPS on the proliferation and activity of HUVECs were detected by CCK-8 test, scratch test, Transwell test and tube formation test. The antibacterial and antibiofilm abilities of Met@J-AuPPS were detected by blood plate test, crystal violet staining, SEM of biofilm and bacterial live/dead staining. Imaging and histological staining were used to detect the efficacy of Met@J-AuPPS in treating diabetic wound infections in vivo. RESULTS: Excellent photothermal antibacterial performance against gram-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), gram-negative extended-spectrum β-lactamases Escherichia coli (ESBL E. coli), and MRSA/ESBL E. coli biofilm is demonstrated by a strong non-centrosymmetric near-field enhancement (NFE) effect between Met@PPS and Au nanoparticles. Furthermore, the release of metformin under near-infrared (NIR) light promotes angiogenesis and tissue repair. The results therefore show that Met@J-AuPPS exhibits excellent antibacterial/biofilm and pro-angiogenic performance, with significantly enhanced therapeutic effects in infected wounds of diabetic rat models. CONCLUSION: This study presents an innovative therapeutic strategy for diabetic wound infections and demonstrates that Met@J-AuPPS has potential as a multifunctional and upgradeable nanoplatform for further biomedical applications.

doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2026.1753425 Open access PubMed 41800177 Interventions