Journal of Biomaterials Applications最新文献

The eye is an essential sense organ and drug delivery to the eye is a challenging task due to protective barriers that hinder drug penetration. Over 90 percent of treatments for eye diseases are topical, but frequent administration over extended periods can lead to toxicity and compliance issues. Over the years, extensive research has been aimed at developing drug delivery systems that enhance drug bioavailability at the target site while minimizing side effects. Innovative drug carrier systems have been researched and developed to extend retention time, decrease administration frequency, improve therapeutic efficacy, and ensure biocompatibility. In this article, we delve into the various ocular barriers affecting drug delivery and provide an overview of the utilization of biomaterials and nanotechnology in ocular drug delivery. We explore its applications in the treatment and management of various diseases affecting the anterior segment of the eye.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. Lenvatinib (LEN) is a potentially effective HCC-targeted drug, but poor water solubility, rapid metabolism, drug resistance, and clinical side effects hinder its satisfactory efficacy. In this study, we proposed to prepare a novel epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)/Vimentin dual-targeting modified polyester albumin nanocarriers to load LEN (EpCAM/Vimentin-LEN-ANs) to improve the therapeutic efficacy of the drug for HCC. The results showed that the EpCAM/Vimentin-LEN-ANs had a particle size of (236.08 ± 6.39) nm, a potential of (38.93 ± 7.15) mv, and were characterized by nanovesicles, with an encapsulation rate of (97.57 ± 2.43) % and a drug loading capacity of (11.16 ± 1.75) %. EpCAM/Vimentin-LEN-ANs can specifically target HCC cells and slowly release LEN drugs, thus effectively inhibiting the growth of HCC cells; in addition, they have good anti-tumor effects and biosafety in vivo. In this study, EpCAM/Vimentin-LEN-ANs were successfully prepared, which can carry LEN and then target into HCC cells to achieve precise delivery and release of drugs, improve anti-tumor efficacy and alleviate the toxic side effects of anti-tumor drugs on the organism, which has a better potential for application and clinical translation in the treatment of HCC.

Hydrogels are widely regarded as pivotal biomaterials in modern biomedical applications. Their excellent biocompatibility, controllable degradation rates, and responsiveness to environmental stimuli make them especially valuable in the development of innovative strategies for disease management. Their unique advantages demonstrate significant potential for advancing targeted drug delivery, minimally invasive surgical techniques, and regenerative medicine applications. Among digestive disorders, gastrointestinal (GI) conditions present major clinical challenges owing to their substantial global prevalence and corresponding healthcare burdens. Although hydrogel-based platforms for GI applications have advanced significantly, their clinical translation remains limited. Major barriers include material-related constraints, challenges in in vivo application, difficulties in large-scale manufacturing, and complex regulatory requirements. This review comprehensively analyzes advances in hydrogel-based therapeutic approaches for GI disorders over the past 5 years. While highlighting persistent challenges in clinical translation, it proposes new research perspectives and potential solutions for disease management in this field.

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is commonly used as a scaffold in tissue engineering applications. However, PVA has limitations in achieving mechanical properties that are suitable for natural cartilage. Collagen and gelatin are natural polymers with biocompatible, biodegradable properties, and low immune reactions. In the study, PVA/collagen/gelatin (PVA/Coll/Gel) were developed for microtia reconstruction. The effects of adding collagen of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% on the X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, microstructure, elastic modulus, and swelling properties of PVA/Coll/Gel were characterized and optimized. The results of the XRD analysis showed that the phase transitioned from semi-crystalline to amorphous in the PVA/Coll/Gel scaffold containing 20% and 25% collagen. The developed composites with 15%, 20% and 25% collagen have the similar mechanical strength to that of human auricular cartilage. The PVA/Coll 5%/Gel scaffold with the largest pore size (∼66.47 μm) exhibits the highest swelling rate compared to the other groups. The results suggested that PVA/Coll/Gel scaffold with tunable properties might have potential applications for microtia reconstruction.

Various dressings have been developed for the prevention and treatment of wound infections, but the complex structures and manufacturing processes designed to achieve powerful functionalities have impeded their clinical application. Herein, a dynamic injectable photothermal/chemotherapeutic hydrogel has been facilely established through mixing gellan gum (GG), indocyanine green (ICG) and amikacin (AMI) aqueous solutions at 80°C and cooling to room temperature. The hydrogel displayed a precise structure with 1.5% of GG containing ICG content of 100 μg/mL and AMI content of 1 mg/mL, and exhibited favorable injectable, self-healing, and adhesive capabilities as well as superior swelling and moisturizing properties through GG's features. Furthermore, the GG also endowed the hydrogel with the capability to efficiently release drugs in response to the microenvironment (pH 5.0, 7.4 and 8.0) of both infected and uninfected wounds. These exceptional physicochemical properties and combined effects of chemotherapy and PTT facilitated the satisfactory in vitro biocompatibility and antibacterial capability as well as wound healing acceleration ability. Therefore, such a dynamic injectable photothermal/chemotherapeutic hydrogel paves the way toward easily clinical transformation for prevention and treatment of local wound infections.

Atherosclerotic plaque instability, driven by macrophage-derived foam cells and exacerbated by interleukin-6 (IL-6), necessitates localized anti-inflammatory strategies. To address this, we developed curcumin-loaded poly(ε-caprolactone-co-4-ethylenediol ketal-ε-caprolactone) (PCT) membranes via electrospinning, characterizing their sustained drug release, biodegradability, and morphology through SEM. Comprehensive in vitro assessments included endothelial/macrophage viability assays, hemolysis testing, foam cell modeling using Ox-LDL (80 μg/mL for 48 h, optimized for IL-6 upregulation), and inflammatory cytokine quantification (IL-6/TNF-α/IFN-γ) via RT-qPCR. Subcutaneous implantation in rats enabled histological evaluation via HE staining and IL-6 immunohistochemistry. Our results demonstrated that curcumin-PCT membranes exhibited sustained drug release and biodegradability while maintaining exceptional hemocompatibility and endothelial safety. The membrane extracts significantly inhibited macrophage activity and downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines, with IL-6 suppression being the most pronounced. In vivo analyses corroborated these findings, showing reduced leukocyte infiltration and attenuated IL-6 expression compared to poly(ε-caprolactone) controls. Collectively, this study establishes curcumin-loaded PCT as a biocompatible platform with targeted efficacy against macrophage-driven vascular inflammation.

BackgroundImpaired wound healing in diabetic patients remains a major clinical challenge due to oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and compromised tissue regeneration.ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop and evaluate a novel nanocomposite hydrogel system incorporating lipoic acid and melatonin to enhance diabetic wound healing.MethodsChitosan nanoparticles co-loaded with lipoic acid and melatonin (LAMELCNPs) were embedded within a calcium alginate hydrogel to form a bioactive wound dressing (LAMELCNPHYD). The system was characterized in terms of its microstructure, swelling behavior, drug release profile, cytocompatibility, antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory activity, and hemocompatibility. In vivo wound healing efficacy was assessed using a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model.ResultsScanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the porous hydrogel structure. LAMELCNPHYD showed sustained drug release, excellent cytocompatibility, and enhanced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. In vivo, LAMELCNPHYD significantly improved wound closure, collagen deposition, epithelial regeneration, and modulation of inflammatory markers (reduced interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9); increased transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)).ConclusionThe LAMELCNPHYD hydrogel demonstrated potent wound healing efficacy through combined antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative mechanisms, offering a promising therapeutic strategy for diabetic wound management.

The repair of critical-sized bone defects remains challenging due to insufficient blood vessel formation and nutrient delivery. To overcome this limitation, we developed a porous organic/inorganic composite scaffold, named Micro-MP, through a combined strategy of H₂O₂ gas foaming and freeze-drying. The scaffold incorporates an oxidized dextran/gelatin (OD/Gel) hydrogel with magnesium calcium phosphate cement (MCPC), forming a double network stabilized by multiple weak interactions. H₂O₂ plays a dual role by serving as both an oxidizing agent that strengthens the crosslinked network and a foaming agent that creates interconnected macropores. Subsequent freeze-drying introduces micropores within the macropore walls, resulting in a hierarchical pore architecture. Remarkably, the scaffold maintains comparable mechanical strength before and after foaming, as the oxidative function of H₂O₂ enhances network density. Furthermore, H₂O₂ treatment promotes apatite deposition on scaffold surfaces and improves protein adsorption capacity, thereby enhancing the attachment, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow stromal cells (rBMSCs). This strategy effectively resolves the problem of maintaining mechanical strength during the foaming process while increasing pore size, offering a promising approach for bone regeneration.

Malignant tumors pose a serious threat to human health. They are characterized by high incidence and indistinct early symptoms. Advances in medical technology have revealed the limitations of conventional therapies. Consequently, precision, minimally invasive, and integrated diagnosis and treatment have become key objectives in modern oncology. Nanomedicine shows considerable potential for precision therapy. However, novel nanocarriers that combine high efficiency, precise targeting, controllable drug release, and excellent biocompatibility are still urgently needed. Hollow manganese dioxide is a promising inorganic nanomaterial. It exhibits high drug loading capacity, responsiveness to the tumor microenvironment, and favorable biocompatibility. These properties make it an excellent drug carrier for cancer therapy. Synthetic methods for constructing MnO₂-based multifunctional nanoplatforms continue to advance. This review highlights promising applications of hollow MnO₂ in drug delivery, bioimaging, and biosensing. Finally, we summarize the associated challenges and future prospects in anticancer applications, aiming to provide meaningful guidance for further research.p.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disease, whose main characteristic is the death of dopaminergic neurons. The animal model of Parkinsonism with reserpine has been used to mimic the consequences of Parkinson's disease. The use of gold nanoparticles in the treatment of several diseases arises due to their evidence of promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin, in turn, presents neuroprotective activity in neurodegenerative diseases by reducing both inflammatory activity and oxidative stress in models of Parkinson's disease. This article seeks to understand the effects of the use of gold nanoparticles biosynthesized with curcumin in an experimental model of Parkinson's disease with reserpine. C57BL/6 mice were used, divided into five groups: I. Control; II. Parkinson's disease; III. Parkinson's disease + Gold nanoparticles; IV. Parkinson's disease + Curcumin; V. Parkinson's disease + Gold nanoparticles biosynthesized with curcumin. Mice were subjected to subcutaneous induction with reserpine, and treatments began 24 h after administration. Seven treatments were applied at 24-h intervals via the intranasal route. After the last treatment, behavioral tests were conducted, followed by euthanasia and removal of brain structures. The combined treatments demonstrated potential neuroprotective effects, reversing inflammatory and oxidative processes and partially reversing Parkinsonian behavior. Together, these therapies potentiated their effects, leading to near-complete reversal of reserpine-induced damage.