Work

Astragalus Polysaccharide Hydrogel Promotes Diabetic Wound Healing by Modulating Macrophage Polarization and the Immune Microenvironment

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a common complication of diabetes characterized by chronic inflammation, impaired tissue repair, and limited therapeutic options. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) has immunomodulatory and pro-regenerative properties, but its therapeutic effects in diabetic wounds remain incompletely understood. Methods: A diabetic full-thickness skin wound model was established in mice to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of an APS-loaded hydrogel. Wound closure, COL-1 and α-SMA expression, macrophage phenotypes, and cytokine profiles were assessed. Macrophage depletion and adoptive transfer of APS-conditioned bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were further performed to investigate the functional contribution of macrophages. Results: APS hydrogel significantly accelerated wound closure and increased COL-1 and α-SMA expression. Treatment increased F4/80⁺CD206⁺ macrophages while reducing F4/80⁺iNOS⁺ macrophages, accompanied by elevated IL-10 and IL-4 levels, whereas TNF-α and IL-6 remained largely unchanged. Macrophage depletion attenuated the wound-healing effects of APS hydrogel, whereas adoptive transfer of APS-conditioned BMDMs enhanced wound closure and tissue remodeling. No significant systemic toxicity was observed under the experimental conditions. Conclusion: APS hydrogel promotes diabetic wound healing by reshaping the local immune microenvironment toward a reparative macrophage phenotype, thereby facilitating inflammation resolution and tissue repair.

Source: Journal of Inflammation Research

DOI: 10.2147/jir.s626139