Interleukin-8 Overexpressing Collagen Microgel-Based Cellular Microtissue Accelerates the Healing of Diabetic Foot Ulcers.

ABSTRACT: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) represent a major clinical challenge due to impaired healing and limited therapeutic options. Although stem cell therapy offers regenerative potential, its efficacy is restricted by poor survival and engraftment at the injury site. To address this, collagen microgels (CMGs) are developed to assemble with cells to form CMG-based cellular microtissues (CCMs) with enhanced porosity, mass transfer, and viability. However, the diabetic microenvironment impairs healing by suppressing angiogenesis, keratinocyte migration, and fibroblast proliferation. Transcriptomic profiling identifies interleukin-8 (IL-8) as a key factor with multifaceted roles in promoting angiogenesis, migration, and proliferation. Compared with conventional aggregates, CCMs enhance adhesion, preve

SUBMITTER: Chung H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12802542 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature