Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition最新文献

Nanofibers have been investigated for the possible topical delivery of medicines, one of the nanostructure-based drug delivery strategies produced by nanotechnology. Filaments or thread-like structures in the nanometer size range are called nanofibers, and they are made from a variety of polymers, including synthetic and natural polymers, or a combination of both. The polymers, preparation methods, and design specifications all affect the nanofibers' diameter or size. When creating nanofibers, the four main processing methods phase separation, self-assembly, template synthesis, and electrospinning are most frequently employed. The morphology and characterization parameters of nanofibers require a multimethod approach due to their unique structure. Large-scale manufacturing of nanofibers with the required qualities is still problematic, though, because popular electrospinning techniques have drawbacks like low yield, high voltage requirements, and trouble accomplishing in situ nanofiber deposition on different substrates. This study focuses on the latest clinical trials, applications, production techniques, and patents of nanofibers for vitiligo. They are becoming more popular as drug delivery vehicles, and the skin's enormous surface area makes it a potentially effective method for topical medication solutions for a variety of skin conditions, including vitiligo, psoriasis, skin cancer, wounds, bacterial and fungal infections, etc.

ABSTARCTPeriosteum plays an important role in the growth and regeneration of bone tissue. The development of artificial periosteum has attracted researchers' interest. Based on the sensitivity of bone tissue to electrical stimulation (ES), the development of electroconductive artificial periosteum is particularly crucial. In this study, an electroconductive liquid metal (LM) based artificial periosteum scaffold was prepared. The effect of the electroconductive artificial periosteum combined with ES on the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) was explored. Furthermore, the electroconductive artificial periosteum was coated on the surface of decellularized bone matrix (DBM) to prepare the electroconductive bone repair scaffold. The effect of electroconductive bone repair scaffold combined with ES on the repair of large bone defects was explored in a rabbit radial defects model. The results indicated that the electroconductive artificial periosteum demonstrated favorable biocompatibility and, when combined with ES, could enhance the osteogenic differentiation of BM-MSCs. The electroconductive bone repair scaffold combined with ES could promote the bone integration and bone regeneration of large bone defects. This study is expected to provide meaningful reference for the application of LM based electroconductive periosteum in bone regenerations.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disorder and the predominant form of dementia among the elderly. Berberine (BBR) is an approved drug for Alzheimer's disease (AD) that has demonstrated a substantial improvement in cognitive function, proficient management of neurobehavioral symptoms, and enhancement of performance in vital everyday activities. Nonetheless, the adverse effects of the drug encompass vomiting and nausea, considerable variations in blood concentrations, and inadequate patient adherence. Consequently, the primary objectives are to optimize the administration method and enhance therapeutic efficiency. Hence, we suggest utilizing a hierarchical hydrogel (HGL)-incorporated mesoporous silica nanocarrier (MSN) to incorporate BBR, aiming to reduce adverse effects in the stomach. These hydrogels facilitate the gradual release of drugs at a rate of 62% over a prolonged duration, aiming to decrease dose frequency, optimize the efficacy of drug administrations, and improve patient adherence. Due to these characteristics, drug-encapsulating MSN-BBR hydrogels can facilitate optimal drug administration and have developed into superior options for Alzheimer's disease therapy, with innovation promising effective treatment.

Breast cancer has high mortality rate among women. Though paclitaxel is one of the important drugs used, but frequent use will lead to drug resistance. Nuclear factor kappa B (NFƘB) a transcription factor will be up regulated with frequent use of paclitaxel, and this increases drug resistance in cancer cells. Usage of curcumin will down regulate the NFƘB and using both the drugs in combination with different mechanisms of action has shown synergistic effects and reduces NFƘB expression in cancer cells. To reduce the systemic toxicity, low intracellular uptake and low bioavailability, nano-based therapeutics were used. To improve the targeting ability of the drug to the cancer cells, Hyaluronic acid (HA) is used as a targeting moiety on the surface of the nanoparticles (NP). The study focuses on formulating a Hyaluronic acid (HA) surface functionalized Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulated with Paclitaxel (PTX) or Curcumin (CUR) to target CD44v expressed on breast cancer cells. HA surface functionalized NPs encapsulated with only PTX or in combination with CUR were treated against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. We found that HA surface functionalized NPs with combination of PTX and CUR has substantially increased cytotoxicity compared to non-surface functionalized NPs and free drugs and 2.5-fold increased cellular uptake of NPs compared to free drugs. We also found that NFKB activity reduces significantly with the use of CUR with PTX. From the results, we can conclude that combination of drugs in HA surface functionalized NPs will be useful for breast cancer therapy.

Diabetes is still a global health crisis characterized by progressive dysfunction of the β-cells, insulin resistance and metabolic dysregulation. Classical pharmacotherapies have the benefit of symptomatic control without long-term metabolic reprogramming. The convergence of nanotechnology and gene modulation- here termed nanogenetics- a precise, durable way to reprogram glucose-homeostasis pathways. This critical review outlines the mechanistic foundations of nanogenetic interventions in the β-cells, hepatocytes, adipose tissue, and immune-metabolic interfaces. We offer an advanced taxonomy of nanoscale platforms (lipid, polymeric, inorganic, exosomal, and stimuli-responsive carriers) in combination with gene-editing modalities (RNA interference, CRISPR, epigenome editing, and synthetic gene circuits). The mapping of translational pipelines between In vitro organoids and humanized models to current clinical trials is done keeping in mind delivery issues, safety, manufacturing requirements and ethical aspects. Mechanistic insights are further improved with multi-omics profiling, high-end imaging, and computational digital twins. Through technological innovations and translational breakthroughs, a procession of nanogenetics-based long-term remission- and, eventually, curative interventions against diabetes is outlined.

Catheter-associated infections (CAIs) remain a significant healthcare challenge, driven by biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance, and design limitations of conventional catheters. While coatings and sterilization methods have advanced, long-term infection prevention is often inadequate. This scoping review, conducted using PRISMA-ScR guidelines, analyzed 36 peer-reviewed studies selected from 545 records retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Eight innovation domains were identified: 3D printing technologies, antimicrobial coatings, surface engineering, biodegradable materials, AI-assisted design, sterilization compatibility, regulatory challenges, and economic feasibility. Findings indicate that 3D-printed catheters can integrate personalized geometries, targeted antimicrobial delivery, and improved biocompatibility. However, clinical adoption is hindered by methodological heterogeneity, limited long-term trials, and regulatory barriers. This review underscores the transformative potential of 3D printing in catheter design and infection control, while emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, standardized evaluation, and robust regulatory frameworks to translate laboratory innovations into real-world healthcare solutions.

As an interdisciplinary discipline bridging medicine and engineering, Biomaterials have garnered increasing research attention in recent years, with evolving research hotspots. This study analyzed 122,146 publications in Biomaterials from the Web of Science Core Collection database using VOSviewer software for bibliometric analysis over the past 20 years. Results revealed sustained rapid growth in publications, with China and the United States of America as leading contributors, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences consistently ranking as the top institution. Keyword analysis demonstrated a thematic evolution: the first phase focused on technological exploration topic like 'tissue engineering', 'hydrogels', 'nanoparticles', while the second phase emphasized application-oriented topics like 'antibacterial' and 'wound healing', highlighting the discipline's shift from fundamental research to practical medical applications. The findings can delineate developmental trajectories and emerging frontiers in Biomaterials, offering empirical insights for researchers to identify trends and guide future directions in the discipline.

Bone regeneration is frequently impaired by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and prolonged inflammation, which disrupt the immune microenvironment and hinder osteogenesis. The stimulator of interferon gene (STING) pathway is an innate immune pathway and a critical mediator of the inflammatory response, has been increasingly implicated in inflammatory bone loss and impaired repair. While STING inhibition represents a promising therapeutic strategy, its effective implementation within the bone microenvironment requires spatiotemporally controlled delivery. Here, we developed an injectable and photocrosslinkable hydrogel system (GMPP+H151) that integrates ROS-responsive scavenging with targeted STING inhibition to synergistically guide immune microenvironment remodeling and bone regeneration. The GMPP hydrogel was fabricated through dual crosslinking of phenylboronic acid (PBA)-modified gelatin (GelMA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), endowing it with self-healing properties and ROS-scavenging capacity. H151, a small molecule inhibitor of STING, was caged by PBA chemistry for on-demand release under oxidative stress. The GMPP+H151 can significantly reduce ROS levels in macrophages and promote their phenotypic differentiation from M1 to M2 by suppressing the STING pathway, downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines, and upregulating anti-inflammatory factors. Furthermore, it efficiently enhanced survival, spreading, and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), leading to increased expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), and osteocalcin (OCN). This study presents a smart, multifunctional hydrogel drug delivery system that integrates immunomodulation and osteoinduction, offering a promising strategy for promoting osteogenic differentiation and in situ bone defect repair.

Smart and rapid wound healing has long been a significant challenge for the medical community. Recent advancements in biomaterials and manufacturing technologies are overcoming the limitations of traditional wound dressings. Notably, reversible light-responsive azobenzene derivatives in elastomer form are emerging as intelligent materials for this purpose. Their reversible photoisomerization properties have extensive applications in wound healing. This study systematically reviews the design principles, strategies, and mechanisms of smart elastomers based on drugs, as well as their applications in various stages of wound healing. When classifying drugs-releasing elastomers by response factors and loaded drugs, we emphasize design strategies based on physical blending and temperature or light microenvironments. Comparing smart elastomers to traditional polymer dressings, this review highlights how the dual presence of photoisomerization and dynamic bonds grants these polymers non-contact, reversible, intelligent adhesive properties. This unique combination enhances drugs delivery efficiency at wound sites while minimizing patient discomfort. The review discusses the advantages, challenges, and future prospects of smart elastomers in wound healing, offering new insights into intelligent drugs delivery systems for wound treatment.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a common cause of wound infections, resulting in symptoms such as redness, swelling, pain, and formation of pus. This group of bacteria has evolved resistance to several antibiotics used in human therapies, making it difficult to treat. Additionally, their ability to form biofilm on wound surfaces shields the bacteria from the host immune system and antibiotics, thereby hindering the healing process. To address this issue, we have developed and characterized a chitosan-alginate composite dressing incorporating lysostaphin (LST) and lyophilized platelet-rich fibrin (LPRF) to treat S. aureus infections and enhance wound healing. LST exhibits potent antibacterial activity against various strains of S. aureus, whereas LPRF promotes slow and sustained release of growth factors, namely PDGF, IGF and EGF. The prepared dressings were porous and FT-IR analysis confirms the incorporation of LST and LPRF into the chitosan-alginate dressing. Swelling and degradation studies of the prepared dressings showed better swelling ratio and controlled degradation. The prepared dressing is biocompatible and showed L929 cell attachment. Furthermore, the in vitro antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity of CA-LPRF-LST dressing was studied against S. aureus and clinical isolates of MRSA, which showed inhibition and biofilm disruption. Based on these in vitro studies, the developed CA-LPRF-LST dressing demonstrates promising antibacterial properties against S. aureus and biocompatibility by L929, suggesting its potential as for further investigation as a treatment for wound infections and healing.