A self-stabilized and water-responsive deliverable coenzyme-based polymer binary elastomer adhesive patch for treating oral ulcer

CY Cui and L Mei and DY Wang and PF Jia and QH Zhou and WG Liu, NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 14, 7707 (2023).

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43571-x

Oral ulcer can be treated with diverse biomaterials loading drugs or cytokines. However, most patients do not benefit from these materials because of poor adhesion, short-time retention in oral cavity and low drug therapeutic efficacy. Here we report a self-stabilized and water- responsive deliverable coenzyme salt polymer poly(sodium alpha-lipoate) (PolyLA-Na)/coenzyme polymer poly(alpha-lipoic acid) (PolyLA) binary synergistic elastomer adhesive patch, where hydrogen bonding cross-links between PolyLA and PolyLA-Na prevents PolyLA depolymerization and slow down the dissociation of PolyLA-Na, thus allowing water-responsive sustainable delivery of bioactive LA-based small molecules and durable adhesion to oral mucosal wound due to the adhesive action of PolyLA. In the model of mice and mini-pig oral ulcer, the adhesive patch accelerates the healing of the ulcer by regulating the damaged tissue inflammatory environment, maintaining the stability of oral microbiota, and promoting faster re-epithelialization and angiogenesis. This binary synergistic patch provided a therapeutic strategy to treat oral ulcer. The therapeutic benefits of biomaterials-based treatments for oral ulcer have been limited by the materials' poor adhesion and short-time retention in oral cavity. Here, the authors report a polymer binary elastomer adhesive patch that allows water-responsive sustainable delivery of bioactive small molecules and durable adhesion to oral mucosal wounds to achieve efficient therapy of oral ulcer.

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