Fluorinated Peptide Nanoscale Hydrogel Accelerates Wound Healing via pH and Oxygen Microenvironment Regulation

The abnormal levels of pH and oxygen (O2) in the wound microenvironment impeded wound healing, and their regulation remains a challenge. Thus, a wound dressing with pH and O2-regulating capacity is urgently desired. Here, we designed and prepared a fluorinated peptide hydrogel wound dressing to regulate the pH and O2 microenvironment of the wound site. Fluorinated peptides with the (naphthalene-2-ly)-Gly-5fPhe-5fPhe-Tyr-Arg-Gly-Asp sequence (F5–Pep) could self-assemble to a nanofiber network in a weak acidic buffer (pH = 6.0), which is similar to the pH of human skin. The F5–Pep hydrogel can maintain pH levels at 6.0–7.3 for 24 h and continuously release O2 for 4 h. The blood coagulation and hemostasis assay showed that the F5–Pep hydrogel significantly accelerated blood clotting speed in vitro and rapidly controlled hemorrhage in a mouse liver hemorrhage model. In vitro cell migration assays and in vivo animal experiments confirmed that the F5–Pep hydrogel can promote cell migration and wound healing. In summary, this work might provide an effective treatment strategy for wounds and develop advanced wound-healing materials.