BMEMat最新文献

In the quest for optimizing biodegradable implants, the exploration of piezoelectric materials stands at the forefront of biomedical engineering research. Traditional piezoelectric materials often suffer from limitations in biocompatibility and biodegradability, significantly impeding their in vivo study and further biomedical application. By leveraging molecular engineering and structural design, a recent innovative approach transcends the conventional piezoelectric limits of the molecules designed for biodegradable implants. The biodegradable molecular piezoelectric implants may open new avenues for their applications in bioenergy harvesting/sensing, implanted electronics, transient medical devices and tissue regeneration.

Carbon dots (CDs), emerging as a promising class of nanomaterials, have garnered significant interest in the field of biomedicine due to their unique physicochemical properties. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advancements in the biomedical applications of CDs, emphasizing their potential for revolutionizing diagnostics, therapy, and bio-imaging. We discuss the synthesis and functionalization of CDs, which are pivotal in tailoring their properties for specific biomedical applications. The applications of CDs in bioimaging include fluorescence imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, photoacoustic imaging, etc. Additionally, this review delves into the benefits of CDs in the treatment of diseases including cancer, inflammation and Alzheimer's, etc. Finally, we look forward to the future of CDs in the field of biomedicine, emphasizing the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration to overcome current obstacles and facilitate the clinical translation of CDs-based technologies. This review aims to provide a summary and perspectives on the latest developments of CDs in biomedicine, hoping to inspire further research in this rapidly advancing field.

The development of novel photosensitizers (PSs) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties has emerged as a crucial advancement in the field of photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, the versatile applications of AIE PSs are limited by low encapsulation efficiency and inadequate target tissue permeability. Biomimetic technology stands out as a promising strategy to overcome these challenges, aiming to enhance AIE PSs tumor penetration efficacy, and their association with antitumor immune responses. In this review, recent advancements in biomimetic AIE PSs for PDT and immunotherapy are summarized. We start with introducing strategies involving biomimetic AIE PSs based on cell membranes and extracellular vesicles for the combined application of PDT and immunotherapy. We then discuss the preparation of biomimetic AIE PSs nanoparticles. Finally, we briefly outline the challenges and prospects associated with biomimetic AIE PSs.

The escalating issue of lung infections induced by multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria is threatening human health. Thus, the development of efficient drug delivery systems is essential to eliminate MDR bacterial lung infections effectively. Herein, we designed inhalable drug-loaded nano-assemblies by the electrostatic interaction between negatively charged sodium alginate and a positively charged antibacterial polymer, quaternized polyethyleneimine (QPEI-C₆), as well as a kind of typical antibiotic for therapy of lung infection, azithromycin (AZT). By adjusting the feed ratios, we optimized the size of the nano-assembly to approximately 200 nm (STQ₁₂), which was beneficial for penetration through the mucus layer and biofilm. In the slightly acidic environment of the infected site, the nano-assembly could dissemble responsively and release AZT and QPEI-C₆. Because of the combined bactericidal effect, STQ₁₂ exhibited high bactericidal efficiency against MDR bacteria. In animal experiments, STQ₁₂ showed notable efficacy against MDR bacterial lung infection. Gene transcriptomic results showed that the main effects of STQ₁₂ against bacteria were through influencing the bacterial cell components and metabolic processes, and affecting their growth and reproduction. This work provides a promising strategy to treat MDR bacterium-induced lower respiratory tract infections.

Advanced drug delivery systems are widely considered to be powerful approaches for treating cancer and many other diseases because of their superior ability to improve pharmacokinetics, promote lesion-targeted delivery efficacy, and/or reduce the toxic effects of diverse therapeutics. Owing to the unique biomimetic structure of lipid bilayers surrounding aqueous cavities, liposomes have been found to encapsulate various therapeutics, ranging from small molecules with different hydrophobicities to biomacromolecules. With the advent of surface PEGylation, stealth liposomes with excellent in vivo long-circulating behaviors have been generated, thus these liposomes have been extensively explored for the development of liposomal drugs with greatly improved in vivo pharmacokinetic behaviors by functioning as delivery vehicles. Inspired by their successes in clinical practice, stealth liposomes have recently been utilized as the main building scaffold or surface coating layers of other nanoparticulate formulations, which are coined as nonclassical liposomal nanoscale drug delivery systems (NDDSs) in this review, to enable the rational design of next-generation liposomal nanomedicine. Therefore, after overviewing the latest progress in the development of conventional liposome-based nanomedicine, we will introduce the development of these nonclassical liposomal NDDSs as well as their innovative cancer treatment strategies. We will subsequently provide a critical perspective on the future development of new cancer nanomedicines based on these rationally designed nonclassical liposomal NDDSs.

Taking advantage of the spatial ordered structures, bio-inspired photonic crystals have drawn tremendous attention in bioassays, sensors, and optical devices. In article number 10.1002/bmm2.12056, Cun Zhu and Lei Tian et al. have comprehensively summarized the recent progress toward bio-inspired photonic crystals, including the origination of vivid structural color in living creatures, and strategies to construct the periodic ordered structures and manipulate the photonic stop band to achieve the control of light propagation.

In this article number 10.1002/bmm2.12059, Min Hao, Wenhan Wang and their co-workers developed a magnetic ferroferric oxide-hydroxyapatite-polydopamine (Fe₃O₄-HAp-PDA) nanobelts to assemble mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into a three-dimensional stem cell spheroid for patterning bone tissue. The incorporation of superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanospheres and the calcium-rich composition of the nanobelts successfully accelerates the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs and allows for remote manipulation of the spheroid fusion into bone tissue, providing a viable method for on-demand bone regeneration.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic and degenerative disease with limited clinical options for effective suppression. Recently, significant endeavors have been explored to reveal its pathogenesis and develop treatments against OA. Hydrogels, designed with a striking resemblance to the extracellular matrix, offer a biomimetic interaction with biological tissues, presenting a promising avenue for OA amelioration. As a result, biocompatible hydrogels have been erected incorporating on-demand bioactivities to optimize the intra-articular microenvironment, thereby alleviating OA symptoms and fostering the eventual regeneration of articular joints. This review highlights the collaborative objectives underlying the establishment of this tissue microenvironment, encompassing mechanical modulation, anti-inflammation, and tissue regeneration. Specifically, we consolidate recent advances in hydrogel-based biomaterials, serving as the tissue engineering scaffolds to replicate the lubrication properties of natural joints or the bioactive agent-loaded vehicles to combat localized inflammation. Additionally, hydrogels function as cell scaffolds to facilitate the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and contribute to the advancement of cartilage regeneration. Finally, this review outlines the prospective directions for hydrogel-mediated OA therapies.

Activating the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway is critical for enhancing antitumor immunity and remodeling the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Herein, we report the preparation of STING-activating nanoparticles via metal coordination-driven assembly of a synthetic STING agonist (i.e., SR717) and a chemotherapeutic drug (i.e., curcumin). After intravenous administration, the assembled nanoparticles could efficiently accumulate in tumors to improve the bioavailability of SR717 and trigger potent STING pathway activation for effective immune responses. Meanwhile, the released curcumin evokes immunogenic cell death in tumors and regulates amino acid metabolism by inhibiting the activation of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1, leading to the reversal of the immunosuppressive TME. The antitumor immunity induced by nanoparticles significantly inhibits the growth of primary, recurrent, and metastatic tumors. The assembled nanoparticles are promising for the co-delivery of STING agonists and drugs in improved tumor chemo-immunotherapy.