Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition最新文献

Nanogels incorporating plant-derived bioactives offer a promising strategy for transdermal therapeutics owing to their biocompatibility, stability, and capacity for controlled drug release. This study phyto-engineered nanogels using Alternanthera brasiliana aqueous extract and compared the performance of chitosan-based (CS) and silver nitrate-based (CP) systems. Nanogels were synthesized and characterized for particle size, zeta potential, pH, viscosity, spreadability, occlusivity, and transdermal permeation. CS-3 and CP-3 emerged as optimized formulations, exhibiting particle sizes of 170.2 ± 6.0 nm and 200.5 ± 5.2 nm, with zeta potentials of -37.4 ± 1.1 mV and -34.0 ± 1.3 mV, respectively. CS-3 demonstrated superior antimicrobial activity (19 mm and 21 mm zones of inhibition), enhanced antioxidant potential (IC₅₀ = 146.94 μg/mL), and improved wound closure (95.74% at 48 h) compared with CP-3 (antioxidant IC₅₀ = 547.18 μg/mL; wound closure 93.74%). Both nanogels showed excellent cytocompatibility and minimal haemolysis, supporting their safety for topical application. The findings highlight the synergistic interaction between chitosan and plant polyphenols, contributing to improved bioactivity compared with silver-based systems. Overall, the study identifies CS-3 as a promising biopolymeric nanogel for future transdermal biomedical applications.

Wound healing is a multifaceted biological process encompassing hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and tissue remodeling. Globally, approximately 6.7 million individuals suffer from chronic wounds, with diabetic foot ulcers affecting 7-10% of diabetic patients. The prevalence of chronic wounds ranges from 1.3% to 3.6% in various countries, imposing substantial economic and healthcare burdens. Conventional synthetic dressings often fall short due to limited biocompatibility, inadequate antimicrobial properties, and inability to maintain an optimal healing environment. In contrast, natural polymers such as chitosan, collagen, alginate, gelatin, and hyaluronic acid offer superior biodegradability and biocompatibility, closely mimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM). These materials support critical wound healing functions including hemostasis, moisture retention, antimicrobial activity, and cellular proliferation. When engineered into hydrogels, films, and nanofibers, natural polymers can be tailored to suit diverse wound types. Unlike synthetic alternatives, they promote tissue regeneration with minimal toxicity and enhanced biological efficacy. Furthermore, the integration of smart features such as stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems and real-time wound monitoring positions these natural polymer-based dressings at the forefront of personalized, multifunctional wound care. Despite challenges related to mechanical stability and cost, these advanced bio-materials hold great promise for transforming chronic wound management.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a prevalent complication of diabetes, caused a significant morbidity and posed a heavy burden on society. Considering the lack of disease models in vitro for DPN and the advantages of 3D bioprinting in disease modeling, we employed 3D bioprinting technology based on GelMA hydrogel to construct neurovascular units to mimic peripheral nerves and vessels in vitro, further we built the pathological microenvironment characteristic of DPN when the treatment of high glucose in these units. Our 3D disease models closely recapitulated in vivo pathological conditions, including oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, which are key hallmarks of DPN. Then we explored the effects of cholesterol on DPN progression using our disease models in vitro. Moreover, the results of RNA-seq analysis revealed that cholesterol stimulation promoted neuron death and inhibited angiogenesis, thereby accelerating the progression of DPN. We identified Fos as a potential therapeutic target, given its role in regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS), neuron death, and transcriptional activity. This study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction between cholesterol and DPN, and highlights the potential for targeting cholesterol metabolism in the treatment of DPN.

Laminarin and fucoidan, two marine-derived polysaccharides, have garnered attention in biomedical research due to their unique bioactive properties. Laminarin, a β-glucan composed of glucose linked by β-1,3 and β-1,6 glycosidic bonds, and fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide, both demonstrate strong biocompatibility, low toxicity, and the ability to modulate cellular behaviors, making them promising candidates for various therapeutic applications. Recent research highlights their roles in tissue engineering, wound healing, drug delivery, and oncology. Laminarin and fucoidan both support cell adhesion, migration, and extracellular matrix deposition, fostering tissue regeneration and wound repair. In drug delivery, both are often incorporated into nano- or microcarriers, where they can enhance targeted delivery, modulate release kinetics, and improve bioavailability due to their bioadhesive and biological activity. Both compounds have also exhibited potential in cancer therapy-laminarin by inducing apoptosis and fucoidan through its anti-angiogenic and immune-modulating properties. Furthermore, their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics suggest applications in managing chronic inflammatory conditions and neurodegenerative diseases. While laminarin and fucoidan hold immense therapeutic potential, challenges such as scalable production, cost-effectiveness, and maintaining stability in complex environments remain. Future research is needed to address these hurdles and fully harness their biomedical capabilities. This review compiles recent advancements, identifies gaps in knowledge, and outlines future strategies to maximize laminarin's and fucoidan's therapeutic potential, paving the way for innovative medical applications.

Infectious bone defects pose a significant challenge in orthopedics by hindering healing and vascularization. This study explored the impact of fibroin thermosensitive hydrogel on osteogenesis, inflammatory response, and angiogenesis as a potential biomaterial for bone regeneration in osteomyelitis treatment. The biocompatibility of the hydrogel by live/dead staining revealed a high number of viable osteoblast cells after 14 days. ALP activity was significantly increased in all hydrogel formulations, with F3 showing the highest levels of total protein content and calcium deposition, indicating more effective osteogenesis. Gene expression analysis of the osteogenesis-related genes demonstrated that RUNX2 was upregulated by day 7, followed by increased expressions of the OCN and COL-1 genes at later stages. The inflammatory response to F3 was assessed by measuring the nitric oxide (NO) production and pro-inflammatory gene expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The F3 formulation significantly reduced NO production and iNOS expression, suggesting selective inhibition of the inflammatory pathway. The VEGF-loaded F3 formulation exhibited substantial angiogenic potential, enhancing HUVEC cell proliferation by 140% over 48 h. The osteogenic, anti-inflammatory, and angiogenic effects shown by the F3 formulation were well-suited for applications in osteomyelitis treatment.

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.