A Self‐Oxygenating Wound‐Adaptive Stem Cell Encapsulation Platform for Chronic Wound Repair

W Wei Huang Y Yi‐Hui Zhang (State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui China) M Ming‐Yu Chen (State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui China) J Jian‐Hang Zhang (State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui China) L Lei Qiao Z Zong‐Huan Ba (State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui China) H Hong‐Jie Gao (State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui China) J Jing Zang (State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui China) X Xuan Liu (School of Energy and Power Engineering) W Wen‐Qian Liu (State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui China) Y Ye‐Zi You (Department of Polymer Science and Engineering University of Science and Technology of China Hefei China) L Long‐Hai Wang (Department of Neurosurgery The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui China)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Stem cell‐based therapies hold substantial promise for the treatment of chronic wounds. However, limited clinical efficacy has frequently arisen not from inadequate cell potency, but from failure of current delivery paradigms to sustain cell survival and function within hostile host microenvironments. Here, we report a wound‐adaptive, self‐oxygenating stem cell encapsulation platform designed to overcome this delivery paradigm failure. The device embeds living stem cells within an immunoisolating hydrogel matrix conformally shaped to individual wound geometries and converts locally accumulated CO 2 into molecular O 2 , thereby providing an oxygen supply that preserves cellular metabolic activity in situ. Importantly, oxygenation in this system functions primarily to sustain cell viability rather than to directly oxygenate host tissue. Compared with conventional local or systemic delivery strategies, encapsulated cells exhibit markedly enhanced survival, persistence, and therapeutic function. Evaluation in diabetic rat and porcine wound models demonstrates accelerated resolution of inflammation, improved vascular maturation, and robust tissue regeneration. By reframing cell therapy as a problem of environment‐cell compatibility, this platform establishes a clinically translatable delivery paradigm for precision stem cell therapy in chronic wound repair.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 1, Issue 1
Published July 20, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (12)

W

Wei Huang

Y

Yi‐Hui Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui China

M

Ming‐Yu Chen

State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui China

J

Jian‐Hang Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui China

L

Lei Qiao

Z

Zong‐Huan Ba

State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui China

H

Hong‐Jie Gao

State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui China

J

Jing Zang

State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui China

X

Xuan Liu

School of Energy and Power Engineering

W

Wen‐Qian Liu

State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui China

Y

Ye‐Zi You

Department of Polymer Science and Engineering University of Science and Technology of China Hefei China

L

Long‐Hai Wang

Department of Neurosurgery The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui China