Macromolecular bioscience最新文献

Implant-associated osteomyelitis (IAO) is a major clinical challenge due to persistent biofilms, antibiotic resistance, and impaired osteogenesis. Hydrogels, with tunable physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and localized drug delivery capabilities, offer advanced solutions to these problems. This review systematically examines advanced hydrogel-based strategies for IAO treatment, categorized into two primary approaches. Antibiotic-loaded hydrogels leverage nanomaterial integration and hybrid composites to achieve precise, spatiotemporal drug release, thereby minimizing toxicity and resistance. Non-antibiotic approaches, including nanomaterial-based agents such as metals and photothermal nanohybrids, as well as peptides, plant polyphenols, and phage therapy, provide alternative options to circumvent antibiotic resistance. Crucially, we highlight key optimization strategies that encompass controlled cross-linking, stimuli-responsive systems (e.g., pH and temperature), anti-biofilm mechanisms, and biomimicry, synergistically enhancing both antibacterial and osteogenic functions in these platforms. Collectively, these advances signify a shift from passive drug carriers to multifunctional, bioactive platforms that both eradicate resistant bacteria and support bone regeneration. This transformative shift, however, reveals persistent challenges while suggesting promising research avenues for advancing hydrogel-based therapies against IAO.

Bioactive composite scaffolds enhance osteoconduction and mineralization, offering potential for bone regeneration. In this study, polysaccharide-based Quince Seed Hydrocolloid (QSH) was combined with Gelatin (Gel), mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs), and 45S5 bioactive glass (BG) to fabricate osteoconductive scaffolds. QSH/Gel/BG and QSH/Gel/MBGN composites were characterized for chemical composition, mechanical behavior, and in vitro bioactivity. FTIR and SEM-elemental mapping confirmed homogeneous bioactive glass incorporation. BET analysis revealed a >3-fold increase in surface area for MBGN-containing scaffolds compared to BG and pristine QSH/Gel samples, attributed to the nanoscale mesoporous structure of MBGNs. Swelling tests showed a hydrophilic nature in all scaffolds, with MBGN composites exhibiting the highest swelling ratio (2094 ± 571%), nearly twice that of BG composites (1105 ± 56%). Compression tests indicated similar elastic moduli for MBGN and BG containing scaffolds (2330 and 2140 Pa). Human osteosarcoma cell cultures (28 days) demonstrated high viability (>70%) and osteoconductive response in all composites. Alizarin Red staining and SEM mapping revealed greater mineral accumulation in MBGN-containing scaffolds (Ca/P: 2.53). Overall, both composites supported a 3D osteoconductive microenvironment, while MBGN scaffolds exhibited superior long-term cell viability and mineralization potential, emphasizing their suitability for bone tissue engineering applications.

Front Cover: The cover art illustrates a multifunctional HAP-CNT-Ce hybrid coating designed for orthopaedic implants. The synergy of Ce ions and CNTs enhances mechanical strength, antioxidant activity, and osteogenic potential, promoting advanced bone regeneration and implant integration. More details can be found in the Research Article by Amrita Biswas, Kantesh Balani, Shikha Awasthi, and co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202500384).

Bone repair remains a significant challenge in orthopedics and reconstructive surgery, especially in complex fractures and large tissue defects. Biomaterials such as graphene oxide (GO) and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) are promising due to their physicochemical properties and biocompatibility. However, the immune response plays a critical role in graft success. In this study, PLLA/GO scaffolds are implanted in the right antimeres of nine goat mandibles, while the left antimeres are stabilized with titanium plates and serve as controls. Samples are collected at 15-, 45-, and 60-days post- implantation and examined using histology and immunohistochemistry to assess inflammation, bone organization, and bone-implant integration. At 15 days, hematoxylin and eosin staining show early inflammatory reactions at the PLLA/GO interface, whereas control samples display regular histological patterns. At 45 days, denser and more compact bone tissue indicate progressive structural organization. By 60 days, the samples present advanced bone maturation and active osteogenesis. Steven's Blue staining confirms mineral deposition, and osteoblast-like cells deposit new matrix at the scaffold-tissue interface. Immunohistochemical detection of osteocalcin and VEGF reveals osteoblastic activity and angiogenesis. These results demonstrate that PLLA/GO scaffolds promote bone regeneration and integration, supporting their potential for clinical application in mandibular repair.

Urinary catheterization is a common procedure, affecting 15%-25% of hospitalized patients. This procedure, however, often results in bacterial infections, primarily caused by biofilm-forming Gram-negative bacteria that adhere to the catheter surface. To address this challenge, we developed a polymer-based antimicrobial coating using polydopamine (PD) embedded with gentamicin (Gent). We evaluated the antibiofilm efficacy of this coating (PD-Gent) using a biofilm-forming isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1) as P. aeruginosa is commonly implicated in catheter-related infections. We observed that the PD-Gent coating significantly reduced biofilm formed by PAO1 compared to the uncoated control. Importantly, the coating maintained its antibiofilm activity across diverse substrates, including polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), and silicone. The approach was further extended to incorporate other antibiotics (tobramycin, amikacin), demonstrating adaptability to multiple antimicrobial agents. Finally, artificial urine inoculated with PAO1 was deployed through PD-Gent-coated silicone Foley catheters under continuous flow for 24 h. Despite this continuous introduction of PAO1, the coated catheters inhibited biofilm formation by three-fold compared to the uncoated control catheters. These findings underscore the promise of PD-Gent as a robust, versatile coating with strong potential to significantly reduce the incidence of catheter-associated infections in clinical settings.

Cyclic peptides, a class of highly constrained molecules generated through the closure of amino acid residues at their N- and C-termini or side chains, have emerged as a focal point in the research of medicinal chemistry and materials science. This prominence is attributed to their remarkable stability, selectivity, and biological activity. This paper conducts a systematic review of the sources, synthetic strategies, and application progress of cyclic peptides across multiple domains. Initially, it summarizes the distribution and representative molecules of natural cyclic peptides in plants, microorganisms, and marine organisms, highlighting their structural diversity and pharmacological potential. Subsequently, it centers on the chemical synthesis methods of cyclic peptides, encompassing head-to-tail cyclization, side-chain cyclization, and various non-peptide bond construction strategies (such as disulfide bonds, thioether bonds, ester bonds, C─C bonds, and click chemistry bonds). It also compares the advantages of different approaches in terms of cyclization efficiency and conformational control. Finally, it outlines the recent application advancements of cyclic peptides in drug development, material design, food science, and bio-diagnostics, demonstrating their extensive prospects in multidisciplinary research. The objective of this paper is to offer a theoretical basis and research reference for the structural optimization and functional design of cyclic peptides.

Vegetable oils are natural and renewable resources, mostly composed of triglycerides (fatty acid esters of glycerol). These molecules possess multiple reactive sites, which can be used for chemical functionalization to form epoxides, hydroxyls, and cyclic carbonates. Thanks to these added functions, polymerization can take place in order to form vegetable oil-based materials, such as polyesters, polyurethanes, or hybrid materials. The development of vegetable oil-based polymers has provided access to new materials with properties such as flexibility, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Thus, these characteristics make them particularly well-suited for biomedical applications. In this review, we are focusing on vegetable oil-based materials developed as drug delivery systems and wound dressings.

Tissue engineering holds promise for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), where protective hydrogel scaffolds have been combined with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to promote chondrogenesis. Quantification of chondrogenesis by MSCs in 3D culture requires the imaging and detection of deposited extracellular matrix (ECM) components like collagen and proteoglycans. ECM protein quantification should be performed in a non-destructive, label-free, and simple manner. Here, we demonstrate a nanoplasmonic colorimetric device for the imaging of collagen requiring only a simple optical microscope. MSCs were encapsulated in the hydrogel-forming peptide Fmoc-diphenylalanine (Fmoc-FF) with arginine glycine aspartic acid (RGD) added. We showed, by colorimetric histology, that increased concentrations of RGD resulted in a significant increase in collagen deposition after 21 days. Traditional techniques such as immunohistological staining were not able to detect any RGD dependent increases in ECM deposition. Through an in-depth biophysical analysis we were able to correlate elevated RGD with enhanced cell-viability, collagen deposition, and reduced hydrogel stability. In summary, plasmon-enhanced colorimetric histology provides a non-destructive, label-free means to image collagen without resorting to destructive sample processing and complex immunohistological staining. This approach holds broad potential for routine quantification of collagen-rich biomaterials, promising widespread applications across research and clinical settings.