Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition最新文献

The development of advanced biopolymer-based wound dressings is critical for enhancing tissue repair and reducing inflammation. This study presents a dual-crosslinked hydrogel composed of alginate and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), enriched with bioactive seagrass extract, synthesized through a freeze-thawing technique to improve mechanical integrity and biocompatibility for potential applications in wound healing. Structural characterization was conducted using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) confirmed the successful integration of the extract and the uniformity of the hydrogel matrix. Invitro cytotoxicity assessment utilizing normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cell lines showed high cell viability across all concentrations, with PVAS-treated cells exhibiting over 90% viability at 100 µg/mL (p < 0.01). In vivo wound healing studies in murine models demonstrated significantly enhanced outcomes in the PVAS group compared to controls, including improved epidermal regeneration, collagen deposition, and tissue remodeling. Notably, the PVAS group achieved approximately 85% wound closure by day 21, in contrast to around 60% in untreated controls (p < 0.001). These findings underscore the potential of alginate/PVA hydrogels enriched with seagrass extract as effective, biocompatible wound dressings and support their continued development for applications in regenerative medicine.

This study focuses on the development and evaluation of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) as an efficient carrier for the co-delivery of paclitaxel (PTX) and kaempferol (KMF) in breast cancer treatment. PTX, a BCS (Biopharmaceutics Classification System)-IV class drug, was combined with KMF, a flavonoid extracted and isolated from bee pollen, to enhance therapeutic efficacy. The optimal synergistic ratio of PTX and KMF was incorporated into SLNs using a hot homogenization technique, resulting in PTX-KMF-SLNs with a stable core-shell structure, narrow size distribution (166.1 ± 3.2 nm), and high encapsulation efficiency (86.15 ± 4.52%). In vitro studies demonstrated that PTX-KMF-SLNs exhibited five times greater cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells compared to the free drug combination while minimizing systemic toxicity. Preclinical evaluation further confirmed a significant reduction in tumor volume, highlighting the enhanced therapeutic potential of the nanoformulation. The antioxidant properties of KMF contributed to improved drug stability and targeted delivery, making PTX-KMF-SLNs a promising nanocarrier system for breast cancer therapy. The nanoformulation SLNs effectively reduced tumor volume in preclinical models, showing strong therapeutic potential. Future prospects include clinical translation, personalized therapy, application to other cancers, and development of targeted or stimuli-responsive delivery systems. This formulation represents a promising strategy for safe and effective breast cancer therapy.

Piperine (PRN) is a water-insoluble alkaloidal drug reported for different biological activities. As part of this study, Kollidone VA64 (KLD) and Soluplus (SLP) were used as carriers to develop piperine solid dispersions (PRN SDs) to enhance their solubility. The stability constant of the drug-polymer composition was determined by the phase solubility study. PRN SDs were evaluated for dissolution and saturation solubility studies to select the optimized composition. SDs were evaluated for drug-polymer compatibility by Infra-red and nuclear magnetic spectroscopy. The drug crystallinity was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and X-Ray diffraction method. Finally, a comparative cell viability assay was performed on the breast cancer cell line. The ternary system (PRN-KLD-SLP) depicted a significantly (p < 0.05) higher stability constant value than the binary system [PRN-KLD; (2.1 folds) and PRN-SLP (2.5-folds)]. An enhanced drug release (about 1.4-folds) was found from the ternary PRN SDs (F7-F9) than binary PRN SDs (F1-F6) and free PRN. The spectral analysis and molecular docking results confirm the formation of stable SDs. SEM and XRD results revealed conversion of crystalline PRN into an amorphous form. Cell viability data demonstrated a higher viability assay than the free PRN. Based on the study, we can say that the formation of ternary solid dispersion makes PRN more soluble and shows a better dissolution rate than the binary SDs.

This review provides an in-depth analysis of dental bone regeneration, tracing its evolution and applications. Recent advancements in dental bone regeneration have allowed the utilization of barrier membranes to direct the regeneration process, excluding undesired cell types and fostering the growth of beneficial tissues, particularly in treating periodontal and bone defects. Over the past forty years, bone regeneration has advanced significantly, effectively enhancing periodontal ligament restoration while preventing unwanted soft-tissue growth. It is widely applied in periodontal, oral, implant, and jawbone surgeries, offering benefits such as restoring functionality and aesthetics of damaged tissues. The review also explores the structure of bone, emphasizing its biphasic nature with collagen and hydroxyapatite, which are crucial for maintaining bone strength and mechanical properties. As dental diseases like periodontitis and trauma become more prevalent, bone regeneration has gained prominence. Various graft materials, synthetic biomaterials, and techniques for creating scaffold designs have been explored. Understanding these regeneration mechanisms is key to improving dental treatments, and patient outcomes, and addressing challenges in oral health care.

Puerarin (Pn), a naturally occurring flavonoid, possesses numerous therapeutic qualities, while Dextran (Dn) is a naturally derived polysaccharide. Here, we examined the puerarin-dextran complex (Pn/Dn), characterization to confirming its functional groups through morphological and structural properties. Cytocompatibility assessments on HT22 cell lines along with ROS and MDA content analysis revealed higher cytocompatibility with Pn/Dn complex treatment, when compared to heat-stressed and control groups. Additionally, elevated oxidative stress levels were found to reduce after treatment with Pn/Dn complex. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that HT22 cells treated with puerarin, dextran, and the Pn/Dn complex exhibited preserved viability, with a reduced percentage of cells undergoing early and late apoptosis, particularly at concentrations below 20%, indicating effective prevention of cell death. Importantly, In vivo results proposed that neuronal death in various histopathological observations involves both neurons and surrounding glial cells. These findings demonstrate that the Pn/Dn complex effectively influenced in reduced hippocampal neuronal injury in mice, as confirmed by histological examination. Overall, this study highlights the protective effects of Pn/Dn complex against heat-induced neuronal injury and oxidative stress, emphasizing their potential therapeutic applications.

In the study, chitosan (CS)-based Ti₃C₂T_x MXene/Halloysite nanotube (HNT) films were successfully synthesized using the solution casting method. The prepared films were characterized morphologically and structurally. To measure the surface wettability of the films for potential biological applications, contact angles were measured in simulated body fluid. The bacterial viability and antibacterial properties on Gram-negative (E. coli) and Gram-positive (S. aureus) bacteria were evaluated by CFU counting, and statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA. The HNT particles with a size of about 30-40 nm were homogeneously anchored onto MXene layers without partial agglomerations. The presence of micropores and functional end groups in the prepared films contributes to their antibacterial effect. The incorporation of HNT into the chitosan MXene film provided a hydrophilic character by decreasing the contact angle from 82.26° to 49.47°. Antibacterial evaluation revealed that the film exhibited high inhibition for E. coli (34.63%) and S. aureus (63%) due to the synergistic effect between HNT and MXene. These findings highlight the potential of the developed film as an antibacterial material for biomedical applications.

Burn wounds encompass skin injuries resulting from exposure to thermal, cryogenic, electrical, chemical, radioactive, and frictional agents. Disruption of the skin barrier and an exaggerated inflammatory response contribute to the impaired healing of these wounds. With the development of burn wound treatment technology, the importance of comfortable treatment for burn wound is becoming increasingly prominent. In this paper, we designed a multifunctional wound dressing based on silicone gel. This dressing incorporated the analgesic drug prilocaine into the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) coating to provide pain relief. This ensures prolonged and controlled drug release, achieving effective analgesia and wound protection. We used positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scanning to compare pain levels in rats, and favorable results were obtained in animal experiments. The PET/CT results showed a significant decrease in pain indicators in the experimental group compared to the control group, confirming that the analgesic function of the dressing designed in this study is effective. In conclusion, our study provides a new perspective on burn wound dressings and offers a potential new approach to alleviating severe pain associated with burn wounds.

Current alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) materials face unresolved trade-offs between mechanical stability, bioactivity, and clinical operability. To address this, we developed a fish-derived methacrylated gelatin (FGelMA) hydrogel composited with magnesium silicate (MS) microparticles combining the low immunogenicity of FGelMA with the dual osteo-angiogenic potential of MS. To characterize the physical properties of this material, the composite hydrogels (MS/FGelMA) were tested using a mechanical tester and a rheometer, and then its biocompatibility and in vitro osteogenic properties were analyzed using bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in a three-dimensional environment. In vivo model was further established to evaluate the effect of MS/FGelMA on ARP in SD rats. The results indicated that MS/FGelMA hydrogels exhibited rapid crosslinking within 20 s (365 nm UV, 10 mW/cm²), excellent shear-thinning behavior enabled precise defect adaptation, enhanced mechanical robustness, improved osteogenesis and angiogenesis capacity, especially for the optimized 1%MS/15%FGelMA formulation. 1%MS/15%FGelMA had compressive strength of 231 ± 10.149 kPa (378.69% of pure 15%FGelMA), and 2.3-4.1 folds upregulation of osteogenic markers (RUNX2/ALP/OCN) and angiogenic marker (VEGF) in rat BMSCs cultured in 3D hydrogels compared with that in pristine FGelMA hydrogel. Micro-CT analysis revealed 1%MS/15%FGelMA had socket volume preservation of 61% (vs. 46% in controls) at 3 weeks and had bone density of 75% (vs. 62% in controls) at 6 weeks. In general, this species-independent, chairside-applicable platform demonstrates superior clinical translation potential for complex ARP scenarios.

Embedding natural products into chitosan nanoparticles (CNP) is an effective way to produce a novel combination with better antimicrobial and anticancer activities. Therefore, this study aims to incorporate carob honey (CH) into CNP, determine its potential antimicrobial along with antiproliferative activities, by well diffusion and MTT cell viability assays, respectively. Successful loading of CH in CNP was confirmed after due characterization. The nanoparticles, synthesized by ionic gelation method, produced a small (101.3 ± 4.13 nm), stable (+27.27 ± 0.95 mV), and monodispersed (0.2265 ± 0.0027) CH-loaded CNP (CHCNP). The best antibacterial activity occurred in Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) (23 ± 0 mm to 16 ± 1.7 mm) followed by Escherichia coli (E. coli) (18 ± 2.0 mm to 10 ± 1 mm). Meanwhile, Aspergillus niger (A. niger) and Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) were evenly inhibited with inhibition zones in the range of 15 ± 3 mm to 7 ± 0.8 mm and 15 ± 5 mm to 9 ± 1.4 mm, respectively. CHCNP showed a remarkable cytotoxic effect on MDA-MB-231 according to concentration and time, with IC₅₀ of 25 ± 5 to 18 ± 2.6 μg/mL within 24-72 h. These findings demonstrated the feasibility of loading CH in CNP to form a nanoformulation that could potentially serve as a target-specific therapeutic agent in the treatments of microbial infections and breast cancer. However, there is a need for further research on the safety, dosage optimization, in vivo studies and mechanisms of action of the nanoparticles.

4D printing of alginate hydrogels has emerged as a transformative strategy in tissue engineering, enabling the fabrication of stimuli-responsive scaffolds that recapitulate the temporal and spatial complexities of native tissues. Leveraging alginate's tunable crosslinking, biocompatibility, and easy modification, recent research has demonstrated the successful design of constructs capable of programmable shape morphing in response to physiological stimuli. This review highlights recent advances in polymer design, including methacrylated, oxidized, and ligand-functionalized alginate derivatives, and cutting-edge 4D printing technologies such as extrusion-based and photopolymerization-based printing technologies. Notably, these systems have shown promising outcomes in regenerating cartilage, bone, vascular, and neural tissues. However, key challenges remain, including the standardization of shape-morphing quantification, enhancement of mechanical robustness, improvement of host tissue integration, and the replication of native tissue complexity. This review concludes with a critical evaluation of current limitations and future directions, highlighting the potential of integrating 4D alginate hydrogel systems with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, organoid models, and bioelectronic interfaces to accelerate innovation and broaden their application in tissue engineering. By synthesizing recent advancements and offering insights into the implementation of 4D alginate hydrogels, this review aims to stimulate continued progress in this rapidly evolving field.