Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A最新文献

This study aimed to develop electrospun thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) membranes incorporating ciprofloxacin (CIP)-loaded montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclays to achieve controlled antibiotic release for wound healing applications. CIP was intercalated into MMT and then dispersed homogeneously within the TPU matrix to fabricate nanofibrous membranes via electrospinning. Structural and chemical analyses using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed successful drug intercalation and interactions among CIP, MMT, and TPU. Morphological characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) revealed uniform, bead-free fibers with well-dispersed additives. Drug release studies showed that CIP-loaded MMT membranes exhibited significantly slower and sustained release (12.4%–20.8% over 6 days) compared to membranes with CIP directly embedded in TPU (59.1%–73.4%), indicating effective modulation of release kinetics by MMT. Cytotoxicity tests on 3T3 fibroblasts demonstrated good biocompatibility of pure TPU membranes (> 85% viability), while MMT-containing membranes showed reduced cell viability over time, suggesting potential dose-dependent effects. Antibacterial assays confirmed that only CIP-containing membranes inhibited Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli growth, with no activity observed in pure TPU or TPU/MMT controls. Overall, the results indicate that CIP-loaded MMT electrospun TPU membranes provide a promising platform for sustained drug delivery and antibacterial activity in wound dressing applications.

In this study, we describe the gelation kinetics, cytocompatibility, and mechanical properties of interpenetrating networks of collagen (COL), fibrin (FIB), hyaluronan (HA), and laminin (LAM) to evaluate their potential to produce mature skeletal muscle tissue. Skeletal muscle is a dynamic tissue that relies on the fusion of myoblasts into multinucleated myofibers to maintain homeostasis. In progressively degenerative conditions, impaired myoblast fusion leads to skeletal muscle atrophy and significant mass loss. Three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models for skeletal muscle disease have been developed to better understand disease mechanisms and facilitate drug screening. However, most rely on Matrigel, a tumor-derived matrix that supports robust cell growth but has limited clinical relevance. To address this limitation, we focused on creating natural, multi-component scaffolds specifically tailored for muscle applications with clinically relevant drug testing use. Using spectrophotometry and rheology, we characterized the gelation kinetics and viscoelastic properties of interpenetrating networks with varying mass ratios of COL to FIB, supplemented with fixed proportions of HA and LAM. Tunable gelation was achieved within a range of 10 to 16 min. Cytocompatibility studies with C2C12 murine myoblasts demonstrated favorable cell viability in 1:1 and 1:2 (w/w) COL:FIB blends incorporating HA and LAM. Immunostaining of differentiated C2C12 cells confirmed Myosin 4 Monoclonal Antibody (MF-20) expression in these blends when seeded into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-anchored bundles. Notably, in cell-laden 1:1 COL:FIB gels with a seeding density of 10 × 10⁶ cells/mL, the compressive modulus increased three-fold between days 4 and 7 of differentiation. These findings highlight the potential of COL:FIB interpenetrating networks, enhanced with HA and LAM, as promising scaffolds for developing clinically relevant models of skeletal muscle tissue.

The clinical translation of 3D-bioprinted tissues is significantly limited by the cytotoxicity of synthetic photoinitiators used in photopolymerizable bioinks. To address this critical challenge, we developed a novel, fully photoinitiator-free bioink platform based on methacrylated decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM-MA) and a biomacromolecular crosslinker zein (BMC-Z). The key innovation of this work is the exploitation of the innate UV reactivity of tyrosine residues naturally abundant in dECM, which function as an intrinsic photoinitiator system. BMC-Z plays a dual role, simultaneously providing immediate rheological stability through a hydrophobic physical network and enhancing the tyrosine-mediated radical generation for covalent photocrosslinking. A Full Factorial Design (FFD) was employed to efficiently optimize the complex interactions between dECM-MA, hyaluronic acid (HA), hydroxyapatite (HAp), and BMC-Z. The optimal formulation (40 mg/mL dECM-MA, 2 mg/mL HA, 3 mg/mL HAp, 160 μL BMC-Z) exhibited excellent viscoelastic properties (tan δ = 0.286) and significantly enhanced storage modulus (G′). Remarkably, this bioink supported outstanding biological performance, demonstrating 95% ± 3% cell viability over 14 days and a 4.8-fold increase in cell proliferation (4.16 × 10⁵ → 2.0 × 10⁶ cells/scaffold). This study introduces a paradigm-shifting, non-toxic, and high-performance bioink strategy that effectively eliminates the dependency on exogenous photoinitiators, paving the way for safer and more clinically relevant tissue engineering applications.

Osteomyelitis (OM) is caused by the entry of septic cells into bone tissue. Due to systemic antibiotic side effects and drug resistance, local administration is a strategy for treating OM. In this study, a biodegradable, injectable thermosensitive hydrogel containing vancomycin hydrochloride (VA) was developed to reduce drug resistance and prolong the therapeutic efficacy of Staphylococcus aureus by sustained topical delivery of VA. VA was loaded into an injectable butyl glycidyl ether-modified methylcellulose hydrogel (MC-BGE), and VA-loaded MC-BGE hydrogel (VA@MC-BGE) was obtained. The gelation time of VA@MC-BGE at 37°C was approximately 10 min. In vitro, the hydrogel released ~40% of its VA payload within the first 4 days, followed by a sustained release that reached 91.0% cumulative release by Day 28. During this period, mass-loss measurements showed ~67% degradation of the hydrogel. The in vitro study showed that the VA@MC-BGE had stronger antimicrobial activity against S. aureus for at least 7 days and could reduce the cytotoxicity of VA with high osteoblast viability (> 85%) over 72 h. VA@MC-BGE inhibited S. aureus infection and improved inflammation and oxidative stress in osteoblasts. The in vivo study showed that the hydrogel was able to degrade gradually in vivo and that only a small amount of hydrogel remained at 28 days. The hydrogel was also not significantly toxic to major organs. In an OM rat model, injecting the VA@MC-BGE into the site of tibial infection in rats further reduced bone infection and improved bone regeneration compared to free VA. In conclusion, in situ thermosensitive MC-BGE hydrogels encapsulating VA have slow-release properties and good biocompatibility, which are promising for the treatment of OM.

The biological inertness of Ti scaffolds prevents the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on pure Ti scaffolds. Medical studies have shown that magnetic fields can promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of stem cells, thereby promoting the production of bone tissue and fracture healing. In this work, a magnetic GelMA hydrogel coating loaded with Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles was added onto the modified Ti surface. The introduction of GelMA hydrogel reduced the elastic modulus of the pure Ti surface and provided good environmental conditions for the proliferation and differentiation of cells. Through applying a magnetic field externally, the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of MSCs on the composite Ti scaffolds were improved. By adjusting the direction and strength of the external magnetic field and detecting the cell viability and osteogenic differentiation index, the optimal direction and strength of the external magnetic field for the composite Ti scaffold were determined. Western Blot analysis revealed that osteogenesis was related to the JNK pathway. It was proven that the introduction of a magnetic GelMA hydrogel coating improved the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, and the effect of the improvement was related to the direction and strength of the external magnetic field, which provides a new strategy to bone injury repair.

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition primarily affecting the face, characterized by symptoms such as persistent redness, visible blood vessels, papules, and pustules. Current treatments, including topical agents and systemic antibiotics, are often limited by poor skin penetration, local irritation, or the risk of systemic adverse effects and antibiotic resistance. This study designed, fabricated, and evaluated a novel ROS-responsive hydrogel microneedle (MN) system for the co-delivery of tofacitinib (a JAK inhibitor) and azelaic acid (A ZA) to treat rosacea. The hypothesis was that this Tofa/AZA@HPA-MN platform would enable triggered drug release in the high-ROS environment of inflamed skin, enhancing therapeutic efficacy and safety compared to conventional topical delivery. Topical tofacitinib and AZA were found to ameliorate LL37-induced murine rosacea-like inflammation, partly via JAK/STAT inhibition. A ROS-responsive hydrogel (HPA) was synthesized and fabricated into robust MNs, demonstrating effective skin penetration and retention. In vitro, these MNs displayed accelerated drug release under oxidative conditions and protected keratinocytes from H₂O₂-induced stress. In vivo, the Tofa/AZA@HPA-MNs proved superior to conventional topical Tofa + AZA and empty MNs, significantly reducing inflammation, tissue ROS levels, and JAK/STAT activation in a rosacea model. Crucially, safety assessments revealed no significant systemic toxicity, addressing the major translational concern regarding the systemic risks of JAK inhibitors. The developed system offers a promising, safe, and more effective targeted therapeutic strategy for rosacea by enabling triggered drug release directly within the inflamed skin.

Microfluidic technology has transformed biomedicine, environmental monitoring, and chemical analysis by enabling precise fluid control at the microliter to picoliter scale. As innovations in precision medicine, organ-on-a-chip systems, and personalized therapies accelerate, microfluidic biomaterials have become pivotal to advancing these interdisciplinary fields. These materials must possess superior mechanical strength and biocompatibility, while integrating seamlessly with microfluidic architectures to support dynamic microenvironments, high-throughput operations, and biomimetic functionalities. This review highlights recent advances in microfluidic biomaterials across three key areas: fabrication techniques (e.g., 3D printing, laser ablation, and paper-based platforms), functional enhancements (e.g., stimuli-responsive materials, surface engineering, and embedded sensors), and diverse biomedical applications (e.g., diagnostics, drug delivery, and tissue engineering). Additionally, emerging directions such as AI-assisted design, modular chip systems, and translational challenges are discussed. By addressing current gaps in standardization, reproducibility, and scale-up, this review outlines a roadmap for the future of microfluidic biomaterials in enabling next-generation healthcare, sustainable diagnostics, and intelligent biomedical devices.