Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition最新文献

Facial nerve injury (FNI) causes devastating sequelae, including impaired eyelid closure, dysphagia, and permanent facial asymmetry, leading to long-term functional deficits and profound psychosocial impacts that pose significant rehabilitation challenges. To address this, neural regenerative scaffolds represent a promising therapeutic alternative. This study engineered poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) electrospun membranes with parallel topographical cues (Align) and functionalized miR-451a-incorporated scaffolds (miR-451a mimics@PLLA) via electrostatic spinning, aiming to decipher how topographical cues steer neurogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and their crosstalk with microRNA regulation. We demonstrate that parallel topography substantially upregulates neurulation-associated biomarkers (Tuj-1, S100, NeuroD1, Map2, and Nestin) in BMSCs, while miR-451a synergistically enhances this differentiation efficacy. The developed miR-451a mimics@PLLA scaffold effectively promotes BMSC neurogenic commitment and functional nerve regeneration, offering a novel biomimetic strategy to overcome FNI complications. This work pioneers synergistic integration of topological engineering and miRNA delivery for next-generation neural repair scaffolds.

The enhancement of efficacy via the optimization of cancer drug ratios in lipid-polymer hybrid nanocapsules (LPHNs), including doxorubicin (DOX) and paclitaxel (PTX), at diverse ratios, represents a viable approach for optimizing cancer therapy results. This study examined four specific (DOX: PTX) ratios, 20:80 (C1), 40:60 (C2), 60:40 (C3), and 80:20 (C4), to determine the best formulation and develop a dual-loaded fluorescent DOX-PTX nanocapsule with controlled release features for targeting breast cancer cells. This nanocapsule (NC), functionalized with folic acid (FA) and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), exhibited accurate targeting abilities and in vitro visibility, indicating its use in individualized cancer treatment. The structural and physicochemical properties were evaluated via DLS, FTIR, XRD, PL spectroscopy, FESEM, and TEM. The cytotoxicity assay determined the average IC50 values for the MCF-7 cell line at 24 and 48 h, along with the cytotoxicity data presented in four sets, which were compared with those of the free drug against the MCF-7 cancer cell line. The encapsulation and release properties confirmed consistent drug loading and extended drug delivery. Moreover, the advancement of controlled release holds significant promise for enhancing its effectiveness. Single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) demonstrated the pronounced genotoxic effects of LPHNc, which was corroborated by cellular imaging, indicating effective absorption and distribution. The optimized drug concentration induced prominent DNA damage, G2/M phase arrest, and a notable sub-G1 population, confirming apoptosis via cell cycle analysis. These findings highlight the efficacy of LPHNc in inducing genotoxicity, disrupting proliferation, and causing cell death with a steady slope.

Nanoscale coordination polymers (NCPs) encompassing both crystalline nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (nanoMOFs) and amorphous coordination polymer nanoparticles have emerged as adaptable hybrid materials. They have adjustable composition, porosity, and surface functionality. These characteristics allow for precise control over drug loading, release timing, and biological interactions. NCPs are therefore promising choices for theranostics, imaging, and therapy. This review points out recent advancements in the synthesis and nanoscale engineering of NCPs. It highlights relevant structure-property relationships that affect biomedical performance. Quantitative benchmarks from recent literature are incorporated to illustrate the advantages of NCP platforms (e.g. ZIF-8 drug loading up to ∼70-80 wt% versus <30% for amorphous NCPs; Gd-based NCPs exhibiting T₁ relaxivities of ∼25-30 mM^-1 s^-1 compared with 4-5 mM^-1 s^-1 for clinical Gd chelates). We also discuss methods for characterization that link physical and chemical properties to biological function. The growing applications of NCPs in drug delivery, biosensing, enzyme activity, imaging, and antimicrobial or antiviral therapy are examined. Finally, we outline current challenges such as biodegradation, toxicity, scalability, and the lack of clinical application. We also identify opportunities for future progress, including computational design and AI-assisted material discovery.

The colon consists of the cecum, transverse colon, ascending colon, descending colon, and sigmoid colon. Colonic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), colon cancer, and various other conditions may occur due to alterations in pathophysiology or factors such as environmental influences, dietary habits, and immunological variations. Conventional oral dosage forms require higher doses and pose the risk of exposing non-colonic tissues to the drug, potentially leading to adverse reactions. Successful colon targeting can be accomplished achieved by leveraging factors such as variations of gastro-intestinal pH, gastro-intestinal transit time, and colonic microflora- which secrete a plethora of complex polysaccharide-digesting enzymes. Colon-targeted drug delivery systems (CTDDS) are designed to release the drug specifically within the colon. Therefore, the development of specialized polymers is crucial for the effectiveness of CTDDS. The aim of this review is to focus on the various commercially available polymers used in CTDDS, including their origins, chemical and physical properties, and their applications to date. Additionally, the authors have discussed the methods for formulating targeted release dosage forms for CTDDS and explored their colon targeting efficiency based on study results to identify suitable polymers for this purpose.

Cancer therapy continues to face significant limitations related to insufficient selectivity, systemic toxicity, and therapeutic resistance, driving growing interest in nanoformulation-based targeted approaches. This review critically synthesizes recent preclinical and clinical evidence on nano-enabled cancer therapies, with a specific focus on delivery systems incorporating either a single therapeutic agent or the co-delivery of multiple agents. Across major cancer types-including lung, breast, prostate, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers-nano-based drug delivery systems demonstrate improved pharmacokinetics, enhanced tumor accumulation, and reduced off-target toxicity. Importantly, our comparative analysis reveals that while single-drug nanoformulations primarily enhance drug stability, bioavailability, and safety, multi-drug nanoformulations more consistently achieve superior therapeutic outcomes by addressing tumor heterogeneity and multidrug resistance through synergistic mechanisms. Distinct from existing reviews that emphasize individual nanocarriers or isolated cancer models, this work provides a cross-cancer, strategy-oriented evaluation of single-agent versus multi-drug nanoformulations. Despite their greater therapeutic promise, multi-drug systems face substantial challenges related to formulation complexity, reproducibility, and clinical translation, underscoring the need for standardized design frameworks and rigorous clinical validation to enable their successful implementation.

This study aimed to develop and characterize chitosan-coated alginate microspheres for the encapsulation and controlled delivery of Thymus vulgaris and Calendula officinalis oils, selected for their well-documented antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. The primary objective was to enhance the stability and controlled release performance of these bioactive oils under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Microspheres were prepared using water-in-oil (W/O) emulsification followed by external gelation. Morphological and structural characterization was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Swelling behavior was evaluated in simulated gastric (pH 1.2) and intestinal (pH 6.8) fluids. Encapsulation efficiency (EE%) and loading capacity (LC%) were determined by UV-visible spectrophotometry, and in vitro release profiles were subsequently investigated. All data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (n = 3). The optimized microspheres exhibited a mean diameter of 525 ± 25 µm. Encapsulation efficiencies ranged from 72 ± 1.5% to 81 ± 1.8% (w/w) for Thymus vulgaris oil and from 68 ± 2.0% to 72 ± 1.7% (w/w) for Calendula officinalis oil. Swelling ratios increased up to 250 ± 5% at pH 6.8. Release studies demonstrated a controlled release behavior, predominantly following the Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic models. Overall, chitosan-coated alginate microspheres effectively improved the stability and controlled release of both essential oils compared to uncoated systems, highlighting their potential as a versatile platform for advanced therapeutic and biomedical applications.

Chronic and infected wounds remain a significant clinical challenge, requiring advanced therapeutic strategies to accelerate repair and improve outcomes. This study developed a chitosan/gelatin/polyvinyl alcohol (CS/GEL/PVA) nanocomposite incorporating chrysin-loaded cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂@Chry) to connect their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative properties for enhanced wound healing. CeO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized via a green method, loaded with chrysin, and embedded into a polymeric matrix to form a stable, transparent, and flexible dry film. Physicochemical characterization revealed uniform morphology, high swelling capacity (∼80%), and strong structural integrity. Hemolysis assays confirmed excellent hemocompatibility, and MTT-based cytotoxicity tests on human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) and murine fibroblasts (L929) demonstrated good biocompatibility up to 500 µg/mL. Proliferation and scratch assays indicated dose-dependent stimulation of fibroblast growth and migration, with the 1 mg/mL formulation exhibiting the greatest effect. Notably, treatment significantly upregulated Col1 gene expression, indicating potential in promoting extracellular matrix synthesis. In vivo evaluation using a murine excisional wound model demonstrated accelerated wound closure, improved tissue regeneration, enhanced angiogenesis, complete re-epithelialization, and reduced inflammation in CeO₂@Chry-treated wounds compared to controls. These findings suggest that the CS/GEL/PVA/CeO₂@Chry nanocomposite is a biocompatible, multifunctional wound dressing with strong potential for managing both acute and chronic skin injuries. Its combined antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pro-regenerative actions make it a promising candidate for clinical translation in advanced wound care.

Bone fractures and osteoporosis-related defects continue to pose major global health and socioeconomic burdens, necessitating the development of advanced regenerative approaches. This review presents a comprehensive overview of bone anatomy, fracture types, and healing mechanisms, followed by an in-depth discussion of current clinical strategies for enhancing bone regeneration, such as distraction osteogenesis, casting, splinting, and bone grafting. The limitations of these conventional treatments highlight the urgent need for innovative solutions through three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies. The review explores 3D-printed scaffolds as a transformative platform in bone tissue engineering, detailing key fabrication techniques, including stereolithography, selective laser sintering, fused deposition modeling, and bioplotter printing, and the integration of nanotechnology to enhance scaffold biofunctionality. Various biomaterial classes are critically assessed, including metal-, ceramic-, polymer-, and composite-based scaffolds, along with design parameters that govern architectural integrity, mechanical performance, and cellular responses. Emerging trends such as four-dimensional (4D) implanting, aimed at achieving dynamic, stimuli-responsive scaffolds, are also highlighted. Finally, the review discusses ongoing challenges related to vascularization, immune compatibility, mechanical optimization, scalability, and regulatory and ethical considerations. By bridging biological principles with engineering innovation, this work provides a forward-looking perspective on the design and clinical translation of next-generation bone scaffolds for improved regenerative outcomes.

The present study focused on the formulation and evaluation of azithromycin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (AZM-CSNPs) to enhance antimicrobial and antibiofilm efficacy. The nanoparticles were prepared by ionic gelation of chitosan with TPP, followed by PAA coating and covalent conjugation using EDC cross-linking to obtain stable CTS/TPP-PAA NPs. Preformulation studies (FTIR and DSC) confirmed drug-polymer compatibility, while physicochemical characterization revealed that the optimized formulation (CNP 1) exhibited a particle size of 287.3 nm, PDI of 0.352, zeta potential of -22.0 mV, and entrapment efficiency of 98.35%. Transmission Electron Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy analyses confirmed spherical, uniformly distributed nanoparticles. In-vitro drug release demonstrated sustained release of 90% over 24 h. The formulation showed enhanced antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with a zone of inhibition of 17-21 mm and significant antibiofilm activity, evidenced by 71% biofilm biomass inhibition and 40 µg/mL EPS reduction. Overall, AZM-CSNPs displayed superior performance compared to pure azithromycin, suggesting their potential as an effective nanocarrier system for treating biofilm-associated infections and addressing antibiotic resistance.

This research developed an advanced polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) based hydrogel, which combines graphene oxide (GO) and liposome (Lip) to solve the key challenges in joint repair. PVA-GO-Lip composite material was prepared by freeze-thaw cycling, forming a composite structure with hydrogen bonding network and embedded Lip micro reservoir. This material has excellent mechanical properties (300% elongation, 4.2 kg load capacity) and self-healing properties through dynamic hydrogen bonding. Friction tests showed that compared to pure PVA, friction was reduced by 48% (coefficient: 0.11) due to GO enhanced hydration and Lip mediated boundary lubrication. The release of alendronate (ALN) follows Higuchi kinetics, with stable Lip release under mechanical stress (cumulative release 82.4%). GO has excellent antibacterial activity (inhibition rate > 98% against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus), while ALN promotes significant mineralization (calcium/phosphate content increased by 8-16 times). This composite material has excellent stability (degradation of 2.6% within 30 days), adjustable hydrophilicity (contact angle of 36.5°), and swelling ability (equilibrium ratio of 49.21%). This multifunctional hydrogel combines mechanical durability, adaptive lubrication, controlled drug delivery, antibacterial effect and osteogenic potential. It is a promising biomimetic solution for the treatment of osteoarthritis and cartilage regeneration, linking biomechanical properties with therapeutic functions.