Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition最新文献

Burn wound management presents significant therapeutic challenges due to the pathophysiological complexity of injured tissues, which disrupts healing and heightens risks of infection, dehydration, and scarring. This review systematically analyzes the efficacy of hydrogel- and non-hydrogel-based dressings in acute and sub-acute burn care. Hydrogels with a water content of more than 90% present an environment for healing by way of autolytic debridement, angiogenesis, fibroblast proliferation, and pain relief-they are extremely helpful in partial-thickness burns owing to their cooling and non-adherence characteristics. Additionally, hydrogels can deliver bioactive agents (e.g. antimicrobials) and manage moderate exudate, enhancing their utility in infected wounds. In contrast, non-hydrogel dressings-including foam, nanofiber, and film-based systems-are tailored for heavily exudative or deep burns (e.g. full-thickness injuries). Foam dressings combine high absorbency with mechanical protection, while electrospun nanofibers mimic the extracellular matrix to accelerate cell migration. Key determinants for polymer selection include hydrophilicity, adhesion properties, wound depth, exudate volume, and microbial load. Natural polymers like chitosan and alginate enhance biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity, whereas synthetic variants (e.g. polyurethane) provide mechanical stability. Composite systems integrate these advantages but face scalability limitations. Emerging innovations, such as pH-responsive and sensor-integrated smart dressings, alongside biomimetic designs, promise advancements in personalized burn care. This review examines the types of polymeric wound dressings and their strengths and weaknesses, addresses current limitations, and leverages technological advances to develop appropriate dressing solutions that can transform burn management paradigms.

In this study, we developed and characterized a novel multifunctional complex (fBMHA) comprising fibrillar β-lactoglobulin (BLG), Mumiju, and nanohydroxyapatite (nHAP), aimed at enhancing wound healing and tissue regeneration. Structural and physicochemical analyses using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), zeta potential analyzer, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed a successful integration of all components into a hybrid matrix with both amorphous and -crystalline features. The MTT assay demonstrated a concentration-dependent enhancement in fibroblast viability, with maximal proliferative stimulation observed at 10 mg/mL after 48 h, and an IC₅₀ value calculated at 71 mg/mL. Flow cytometry revealed a significant shift in cell cycle dynamics: the G1 phase decreased from 64.7% to 59.4%, while the S and G2/M phases increased from 25.3% to 27.8% and 4.6% to 6.7%, respectively (p < 0.05), indicating enhanced proliferation. AO/EtBr staining further confirmed preserved cellular integrity with minimal nuclear fragmentation. Scratch assay results showed substantial wound closure within 48 h, supporting the complex's role in promoting cell migration and confluency. Immunofluorescence analyses revealed upregulation of E-cadherin and fibronectin, markers essential for epithelial integrity and ECM remodeling. Moreover, disk diffusion assays confirmed antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones of 22.7 ± 0.5 mm (Staphylococcus aureus) and 20.0 ± 0.2 mm (Escherichia coli). Collectively, these findings validate the fBMHA complex as a biologically safe and multifunctional therapeutic material that simultaneously promotes fibroblast proliferation, accelerates wound healing, and mitigates bacterial infection, highlighting its translational potential for advanced regenerative applications.

This study focused on the development and optimization of a chrysin-loaded emulgel for enhanced topical delivery using a 3² factorial design. Preformulation and compatibility studies, including FTIR and DSC, confirmed the chemical stability of chrysin with selected excipients, carbopol 934, tween 80, and light liquid paraffin. By using 3² factorial design, a total 9 formulations were prepared (F1-F9), employing different concentrations of carbopol 934 and tween 80 as independent variables. The prepared formulation was evaluated for drug content, viscosity, in-vitro drug release, globule size, pH, spreadability, and stability. The optimized formulation was identified through statistical analysis, response surface methodology (RSM), and overlay plots of independent variables versus dependent responses. In the results, drug content uniformity (96.34%-98.25%) viscosity (553.25-736.38 cP), globule size (7.57-13.7 µm), drug release (78.34%-86.26%), pH (6.44-6.82) and spreadability (17-22 g cm/s) were all within the acceptable range for emulgel. The RSM and overlay plots identified F3 as an optimized formulation with a desirability score of 0.986. The optimized formulation demonstrated ideal performance with the viscosity of 647.38 cP, globule size of 10.23 µm, drug release of 82.57%, drug content of 98.25%, pH of 6.68, and spreadability of 20 g·cm/s. The optimized formulation composed of chrysin (1%), light liquid paraffin (7.5%), mentha oil (4%), tween 80 (1.5%), carbopol 934 (3%), and methylparaben (0.03%). In-vitro permeation studies showed sustained drug diffusion over 12 h (112.72 µg/cm²), without an initial burst, indicating controlled release behavior. The developed emulgel system presents a promising approach for the effective topical delivery of chrysin.

Background: Polymeric micelles are a promising nanocarrier platform for drug delivery because they are created when amphiphilic block or graft copolymers self-assemble. By encapsulating hydrophobic medications, their core shell architecture enhances solubility, bioavailability, and therapeutic efficacy while reducing toxicity.

Objectives: This review aims to highlight the advantages, current developments, and existing challenges associated with polymeric micelles in drug delivery, particularly in improving treatment outcomes and advancing clinical applications.

Methods: Various formulation techniques such as dialysis, solvent evaporation, and continuous processing are used to formulate polymeric micelles. Additionally, innovations like mixed polymeric micelles have been explored to further enhance drug delivery performance.

Nanomaterials represent a promising class of biomaterials capable of mimicking natural bone morphology, thus helping to enable osseointegration during bone repair procedures, wherein the repair interfaces with surrounding bone. Owing to their nanoscale characteristics, these biomaterials are the primary candidates to replace missing bone. The main objective of the review is to investigate how nanomaterials may constitute innovative solutions for existing difficulties in bone repair strategies. The conventional methods often fail when faced with several major setbacks, such as inadequate cellular differentiation, insufficient osteogenic factor production, and poor mechanical properties in the process of bone regeneration, while nanomaterials can be used in creating bone tissue engineering scaffolds using novel techniques such as electrospinning and 3D bio-printing. Nanotechnology led to the creation of scaffolds that enhance bone regeneration through natural extracellular matrix-like mimicking, stimulate angiogenesis via controlled bioactive molecule delivery, and enhance tissue integration. Therefore, this review starts with nanomaterials and their importance and moves towards the role of nanomaterials in the design of bone tissue engineering scaffolds. Then, the important types of applied nanomaterials in bone tissue repair are discussed, and case studies are collected in this regard. In the following, the methods of manufacturing nanomaterial-based scaffolds are mentioned, and electrospinning and 3D printing are introduced as the most advanced approaches. Finally, the current challenges in preparing and producing nanomaterial scaffolds and future trends are discussed for use in bone tissue engineering.

Conventional gout therapies are associated with severe systemic adverse effects, creating a need for sustained and targeted therapy. This research aimed to prepare Colchicine-EL-100-polymeric nanoparticles for pH-dependent release in gout. Molecular docking was performed to provide supportive insight into the COL-NLRP3 interaction. The nanoparticles were prepared and optimized using a Box-Behnken Design, characterized by FTIR, XRD, DSC, and FE-SEM. Incorporated into a characterized Carbopol934 hydrogel, it was evaluated for in vitro release, ex vivo permeation, and ex vivo fluorescence imaging. The nanoparticles were evaluated in an experimental MSU-induced gout model, along with biochemical and histopathological studies. Docking revealed favourable colchicine binding to NLRP3 (docking score of 39.3). Optimized nanoparticles exhibited favourable particle size (152 ± 2.8 nm) and zeta potential (-27.75 ± 0.25 mV), EE% (89.60 ± 0.3%), indicating physicochemical stability. FTIR showed no evidence of chemical incompatibility, XRD indicated amorphization, and DSC supported these findings. In vitro studies showed pH-dependent release (84.3 ± 2.67% at pH 6.8 vs. <20% at pH 7.4 in 24 h), restricted drug release at pH 7.4, with preferential release observed at pH 6.8. Ex vivo fluorescence imaging confirmed penetration (354 μm) within dermal layers with sponge-like restructuring of stratum corneum lipids. In vivo, the formulation reduced inflammation, with IL-6 suppression (92.5 ± 3.62 pg/mL vs. 495.23 ± 32.12 pg/mL). This formulation provides sustained, pH-responsive release and shows therapeutic potential for localized management of gout.

Urea compounds, which help control bacterial growth and maintain tissue moisture, were used to create a stable polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel. By combining urea, sulfamic acid, and phosphorus acid under molten conditions, urea linkage oligomers (ULO) are formed. These compounds, with NH₂ and OH as active functional groups at two ends of their chain, can react with the hydroxyl groups of polyvinyl alcohol. Also, crosslinking networks produce a resistant hydrogel in an aqueous medium. Egg white was found to be an ideal protein for the scaffold and was reacted with ULO to enhance mixing and prevent coagulation. The base polymer consisted of 8 g PVA, 5 g ULO, 2 g urea, and 1 g egg white powder, with one gram of a biopolymer (gelatin, collagen, or chitosan) as the sole variable. Characterization involved swelling behavior, gel fraction, and tensile strength measurements in dry states, alongside FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and EDAX analyses. Biodegradation and MTT tests evaluated the growth of fibroblast cells on the hydrogels. The samples made with the selected bio-compounds showed great promise for wound healing, with swelling rates ranging from 300% to 900% and gel factor variations from 43% to 56%. Cell growth exceeded 90-110% after one day of culture. The higher presence of functional groups in the chitosan biopolymer enhanced crosslinking conditions, resulting in better physical, mechanical, and biological properties compared to other biopolymers.

Polycaprolactone (PCL) microspheres are effective in stimulating collagen regeneration. However, the local inflammation they induce upon subcutaneous injection, particularly during the initial post-injection phase, cannot be overlooked. In this study, we designed and fabricated Astragaloside (AS)-loaded PCL microspheres using microfluidic technology for subcutaneous injection to promote collagen regeneration. The incorporation of AS and the application of microfluidic technology endowed the AS/PCL microspheres with a significantly reduced incidence of initial inflammation, thereby enhancing their safety profile. We prepared the AS/PCL microspheres via microfluidic technology and conducted characterization alongside in vitro and in vivo studies. Results demonstrated that the AS/PCL microspheres exhibited a circularity index of 0.90 ± 0.03, an average particle size of 30.45 ± 5.49 μm, and the polydispersity index (PDI) was 0.26 ± 0.03. The AS/PCL microspheres significantly enhanced the proliferation and migration of L929 fibroblasts. In vivo pharmacodynamic studies revealed that the inclusion of AS effectively mitigated the initial inflammatory response triggered by PCL microspheres and promoted superior collagen regeneration. Consequently, the microfluidically fabricated AS/PCL microspheres developed in this study demonstrate enhanced safety and efficacy for subcutaneous injection in promoting collagen regeneration.

The present study evaluated the in vivo wound healing activity of an optimized chrysin emulgel formulation. Antioxidant potential was confirmed through ferrous ion chelation and DPPH radical scavenging assays, showing dose-dependent activity with IC₅₀ values of 1755.78 µg/ml and 141.68 µg/ml, respectively. Acute dermal toxicity testing (OECD Guideline 402) revealed no signs of dermal or systemic toxicity at 2000 mg/kg. Wound healing efficacy was assessed using incision and excision models in Wistar albino rats, with animals divided into control (emulgel base), standard (1% silver sulfadiazine), and test (chrysin emulgel) groups. In the incision model, the test group achieved a tensile strength of 561.17 ± 1.11 g, comparable to the standard (565.33 ± 0.88 g). In the excision model, the chrysin emulgel achieved 97.93% wound contraction by day 12 with an epithelization period of 14.83 ± 0.30 days, similar to the standard (98.17%; 14.33 ± 0.42 days). Overall, the optimized chrysin emulgel demonstrated strong antioxidant activity, effective wound healing, and excellent safety, suggesting its potential as a natural alternative to silver sulfadiazine for topical wound management.