Acta Biomaterialia最新文献

{"title":"Fabrication of stacked polymer cluster coatings via an evaporation-assisted grafting strategy for inducing endothelial cell network formation","authors":"Shuxiang Zhang ,&nbsp;Chuchu Tang ,&nbsp;Ningyue Deng ,&nbsp;Xiangyu Dong ,&nbsp;Jiacheng Lei ,&nbsp;Zhiqin Chu ,&nbsp;Qiang Wei","doi":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.11.056","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.11.056","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The clustered polymer structures formed by grafting polymer brushes greatly enhance biomaterial surface properties. However, their nanoscale thickness and gaps caused by steric hindrance between clusters often lead to instability, limiting their applications. This study exploits the self-assembly of benzophenone-functionalized polymers into clusters in non-aqueous solvents, which are subsequently “frozen” and anchored to the surface through an evaporation-assisted grafting strategy to form stable, stacked polymer cluster coatings. This process is related to the rate of solvent removal and the proportion of benzophenone in the copolymer. This unique structure yields antifouling coatings with superior, sustained resistance to contaminants due to its closely stacked clusters. Moreover, this method can be extended to the preparation of stacked heparin-mimetic polymer cluster coatings that exhibit native binding of endothelial cell growth factors, inducing endothelial network formation, a capability not achievable with traditional methods. In vivo, the coating reduced inflammatory encapsulation and facilitated rapid endothelial organization and vessel-like remodeling at the implant-tissue interface. This strategy highlights the pivotal role of interfacial architectures and molecular interactions in guiding cellular behaviour, providing a distinct perspective on the development of high-performance coatings.</div></div><div><h3>Statement of Significance</h3><div>Our study introduces an evaporation-assisted grafting strategy to fabricate stacked polymer cluster coatings, overcoming the instability of traditional polymer brushes. These coatings demonstrate exceptional antifouling performance and support the versatile integration of functional components. Notably, the resulting stacked heparin-mimetic polymer coatings effectively induce endothelial network formation, rivalling commercial Matrigel-based assays. By harnessing precisely engineered interfacial structures and molecular interactions, this scalable, low-cost approach offers a solution for biomaterial surface design in tissue engineering applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":237,"journal":{"name":"Acta Biomaterialia","volume":"210 ","pages":"Pages 329-342"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145643773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Metal-organic frameworks for CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing delivery: Innovations in therapeutic and diagnostic applications","authors":"Zhengxian Su ,&nbsp;Zeyang Liang ,&nbsp;Qiong Wu ,&nbsp;Siwen Xu ,&nbsp;Chengxin Li ,&nbsp;Hanying Zheng ,&nbsp;Chengxin Wu ,&nbsp;Weizhi Ji ,&nbsp;Yuyu Niu ,&nbsp;Zebin Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.12.030","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.12.030","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>CRISPR/Cas gene editing technology demonstrates significant promise in the treatment of various diseases, and a precise, efficient and safe delivery system is a key to realize gene therapy. Although traditional viral vectors can achieve superior transfection efficiency, viruses suffer from low reproduction efficiency and the risk of random gene integration, further limiting their wide application. Notably, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with tunable pore structure, easy surface chemical modification, good biocompatibility and physiological stability, have drawn much attention in the domain of targeted delivery of gene editing systems. Compared to lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and extracellular vesicles (EVs), MOFs offer superior cargo loading (&gt;80 % for proteins) and protect nucleic acids from degradation, while their stimuli-responsive degradation enables controlled release. This review focus on the cutting-edge advances of intelligent-responsive MOFs in delivering gene editing systems to against diseases, including endogenous responses (e.g., ATP, pH, redox microenvironment) and exogenous stimulus responses (e.g., photothermal, ultrasound) in the disease microenvironment, as well as systematically summarize the synergistic therapy of gene editing therapy combined with chemotherapy, chemodynamic therapy, photodynamic therapy, and sonodynamic therapy based on the delivery systems of MOFs. Additionally, we further summarize the research of MOFs-based CRISPR/Cas delivery system as a bio-probe for viral, nucleic acid and RNA examination. This study will help facilitate the clinical translation of MOFs-based CRISPR/Cas delivery systems in the field of therapy and detection of diseases.</div></div><div><h3>Statement of significance</h3><div>This article reviews the cutting-edge advances of intelligent-responsive MOFs in delivering CRISPR/Cas systems to against diseases, including endogenous responses (e.g., pH, ATP, redox microenvironment) and exogenous stimulus responses (e.g., photothermal, ultrasound) in the disease microenvironment, as well as systematically summarize the synergistic therapy of gene editing therapy combined with chemotherapy, chemodynamic therapy, photodynamic therapy, and sonodynamic therapy based on the delivery systems of MOFs. Importantly, the potential applications of MOFs-based CRISPR/Cas delivery system as a bio-probe for viral, nucleic acid and RNA examination also have been discussed. This study will provide insights for the development of MOFs-based CRISPR/Cas delivery systems in the therapy and detection of clinical diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":237,"journal":{"name":"Acta Biomaterialia","volume":"210 ","pages":"Pages 516-534"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145783874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Polysaccharide-inspired biomaterials for skeletal muscle regeneration: innovations for volumetric muscle loss treatment","authors":"Yantong Li ,&nbsp;Jianan Chen ,&nbsp;Shuo Chen ,&nbsp;Xue Ding ,&nbsp;Xinfeng Zhou ,&nbsp;Jin Li ,&nbsp;Tingting Zhu ,&nbsp;Yong Xu ,&nbsp;Fan He","doi":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.12.019","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.12.019","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Volumetric muscle loss (VML) is a severe condition caused by extensive damage to muscle tissue that exceeds the body's intrinsic regenerative capacity, resulting in significant functional deficits and long-term disability. Current clinical treatments, including autologous muscle grafts and physical therapy, often fall short due to donor site morbidity, limited functional recovery, and an inability to fully restore muscle structure and function. Polysaccharides as natural macromolecules are characterized by inherent biocompatibility, degradability, and tunable mechanical properties, making them highly suitable for tissue engineering applications. This comprehensive review examines the innovative application of polysaccharide-based biomaterials in VML repair, emphasizing their translational potential to regenerative treatment outcomes. Polysaccharide-based biomaterials can significantly enhance muscle regeneration by providing structural support, modulating immune responses to minimize fibrosis, and promoting new vascular and nerve formation, which are essential for functional muscle recovery. More importantly, these materials serve as effective carriers for cell therapy and the delivery of bioactive molecules, thereby enhancing regenerative efficacy. Despite challenges such as standardizing preparation protocols, ensuring consistent biocompatibility, and optimizing degradation rates, polysaccharide-based biomaterials hold great promise for advancing skeletal muscle regeneration and offer a potential breakthrough in treating VML.</div></div><div><h3>Statement of significance</h3><div>Volumetric muscle loss (VML) is a severe clinical condition characterized by extensive muscle tissue damage that exceeds the body's natural regenerative capacity. Polysaccharide-based biomaterials have been extensively applied in tissue repair due to their favorable biological properties. They offer a promising therapeutic strategy for VML, for which currently available long-term treatments are limited in both safety and efficacy. However, a comprehensive review detailing the interaction mechanisms between polysaccharide-based biomaterials and muscle tissue regeneration remains lacking. This article focuses on the interactions and highlights recent evidence on the capacity of polysaccharide promoting myogenesis, modulating immune responses, restoring neural innervation, stimulating angiogenesis, and enhancing antioxidant activity. This review article provides insights into the future design and application of polysaccharide-based biomaterials for skeletal muscle regeneration after acute injuries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":237,"journal":{"name":"Acta Biomaterialia","volume":"210 ","pages":"Pages 355-374"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145752421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Next-generation supramolecular photosensitizers based on coordination-driven self-assembly for therapeutic applications","authors":"Chonglu Li ,&nbsp;Junhua Zhang ,&nbsp;Qiao Song ,&nbsp;Yuting Wang ,&nbsp;Yanping Liu ,&nbsp;Jingxin Wang ,&nbsp;Yao Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.12.039","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.12.039","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Photosensitizers (PSs) that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) under light irradiation are pivotal for biomedical applications owing to precise spatiotemporal control, negligible drug resistance, and minimal side effects. Yet conventional PSs often suffer from complex synthesis, low ROS quantum yields, and aggregation-induced ROS quenching. Coordination-driven self-assembly offers an efficient strategy to address these issues by combining metal acceptors with photosensitizing ligands to yield discrete, tunable supramolecular architectures. Heavy-atom effects from metal centers enhance intersystem crossing and ROS generation, while rigid, charged frameworks mitigate aggregation-caused ROS quenching and improve cellular or bacterial uptake. Incorporation of long-wavelength ligands further increases therapeutic penetration. These features enable broad applications in bioimaging, photodynamic therapy (PDT), chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and multimodal treatments. This review summarizes recent advances in the rational design of supramolecular PSs, covering fundamental principles, representative synthetic strategies, and state-of-the-art anticancer and antibacterial applications, including chemo–photodynamic combination therapy, photothermal–photodynamic dual therapy, and photoactivated immunotherapy. Remaining challenges and future opportunities are highlighted to guide the development of next-generation supramolecular PSs for clinical translation.</div></div><div><h3>Statement of significance</h3><div>Supramolecular photosensitizers (PSs) assembled via coordination-driven strategies offer a promising platform for light-mediated biomedical therapies. By integrating metal centers and photosensitizing ligands, these systems enhance ROS generation, suppress aggregation-caused quenching, and enable tunable architectures with improved biological performance. This review highlights recent progress in the design and therapeutic applications of supramolecular PSs, providing insights that may advance their clinical translation for cancer and antibacterial treatments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":237,"journal":{"name":"Acta Biomaterialia","volume":"210 ","pages":"Pages 549-569"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145800969","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ex-ovo cultured chorioallantois membrane as a biointerface platform for extended angiogenesis studies","authors":"Ahmed M. Abou-Shanab ,&nbsp;Abdelrahman AlOkda","doi":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.12.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.12.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Angiogenesis modeling in a physiologically relevant, ethically acceptable, and versatile system remains a critical need in cancer biology, regenerative medicine, and preclinical drug testing. The chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is a well-established model for studying angiogenesis, tumor growth, tissue grafting, and therapeutic responses; however, conventional <em>in-ovo</em> approaches are limited by a short experimental window (E7-E14.5), immune-related constraints, and restricted imaging accessibility. In this review, we critically assess the CAM current biomedical applications, including tumor angiogenesis and metastasis, biomaterial integration, immune-oncology modeling, and high-content drug screening. We present a temporal profiling of angiogenesis-associated genes during CAM development, revealing a coordinated sequence of pro-angiogenic, remodeling, and inhibitory phases, and identifying E10-E11 as the optimal harvest window for maximal sprouting and vascular responsiveness. To overcome <em>in-ovo</em> limitations, we propose and validate an <em>ex-ovo</em> cultured CAM model, surgically isolated from the embryo and maintained as a viable, vascularized scaffold. Proof-of-concept assays illustrate feasibility, including preserved endothelial integrity (CD31, CD34), metabolic activity (MTT), oxidative responses (DHR123), and nitric oxide secretion, supporting the conceptual framework developed in this review. With strong potential for standardization, this <em>ex-ovo</em> CAM system could bridge the gap between simple <em>in-vitro</em> assays and complex <em>in-vivo</em> models, enabling longer-term experimentation, precise spatial control, and compatibility with tumor organoids, immune cell co-cultures, and engineered tissues.</div></div><div><h3>Statement of significance</h3><div>The chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is widely used to study angiogenesis and tumor biology, but its <em>in ovo</em> format is limited by a short experimental window and ethical constraints. This review introduces an <em>ex-ovo</em> cultured CAM system that preserves vascular and extracellular matrix integrity while extending experimental usability. By positioning the CAM as a biologically derived biointerface, we highlight its capacity to model biomaterial-cell interactions, vascular remodeling, and tissue integration. This platform provides a cost-effective, ethically refined, and translational tool that bridges in vitro assays and mammalian models, directly advancing biomaterials science and regenerative applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":237,"journal":{"name":"Acta Biomaterialia","volume":"210 ","pages":"Pages 314-328"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145822458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A physiological oxygen gradient liver-zonation-on-a-chip reveals HIF-2α intervention in hepatic lipotoxicity","authors":"Yushen Wang ,&nbsp;Xinyu Li ,&nbsp;Junlei Han ,&nbsp;Feng Kong ,&nbsp;Zhipeng Xu ,&nbsp;Huili Hu ,&nbsp;Li Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.11.044","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.11.044","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a prevalent liver disease characterized by lipid zonation, which is closely linked to the functional zonation of liver lobules. However, existing models cannot faithfully replicate the oxygen gradient that regulates liver zonation, hindering a clear understanding of the progression and intervention mechanisms in MASLD. Here, we constructed a MASLD liver-zonation-on-a-chip that utilizes an engineering strategy based on “environmental oxygen convection and diffusion”, achieving a controllable oxygen concentration gradient (3.7 %-8.9 %) that closely mimics the <em>in vivo</em> hepatic microenvironment. This platform successfully recapitulates the typical features and clinicopathological phenotypes of the liver lobule while enabling continuous monitoring of liver injury. We found that upregulation of the oxygen-sensing factor HIF-2α does not directly promote lipid accumulation. Instead, it indirectly facilitates the progression of MASLD by enhancing the transcriptional activity of β-catenin through the WNT signaling pathway (e.g., <em>AXIN2, DVL1</em>). As regulators of the damage process, HIF-2α and β-catenin may be targeted to improve outcomes in MASLD.</div></div><div><h3>Statement of Significance</h3><div>Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a common liver disorder characterized by lipid zonation, which is closely related to the functional zonation of liver lobules. However, existing models are unable to accurately replicate the oxygen (O₂) gradients that regulate liver zonation, a limitation that hinders their ability to accurately reflect hepatocyte pathophysiology and obstructs understanding of the mechanisms underlying MASLD progression. This study constructs a liver-zonation-on-a-chip with a controllable physiological O₂ gradient and integrated biosensing for non-destructive injury monitoring. The O₂ gradient chip successfully replicates liver lobule zonation, providing an engineering approach to overcoming the challenge of low regional heterogeneity in liver organoids. The application of the liver-zonation-on-a-chip in pathological assessments has also been thoroughly evaluated, offering potential solutions for MASLD interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":237,"journal":{"name":"Acta Biomaterialia","volume":"210 ","pages":"Pages 176-191"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145643616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A latent TGF-β conjugated scaffold improves neocartilage development","authors":"Tianbai Wang ,&nbsp;Yifan Peng ,&nbsp;Bor-Lin Huang ,&nbsp;Enkhjargal Budbazar ,&nbsp;Celina C. Maldonado ,&nbsp;Andrew Martin ,&nbsp;Matthew D. Layne ,&nbsp;Joanne E. Murphy-Ullrich ,&nbsp;Mark W. Grinstaff ,&nbsp;Michael B. Albro","doi":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.11.037","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.11.037","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>TGF-β is conventionally supplemented in culture medium at supraphysiologic doses to accelerate neocartilage development. While enhancing extracellular matrix (ECM) biosynthesis, supraphysiologic TGF-β further promotes non-hyaline cartilage features, including hyperplasia, hypertrophy, and ECM heterogeneities. In native cartilage, TGF-β is present in a latent complex (LTGF-β), which undergoes cell-mediated activation, leading to moderated, physiologic dosing regimens that avoid detrimental features associated with TGF-β excesses. Here, we explore a bio-inspired strategy, consisting of LTGF-β-conjugated scaffolds, providing TGF-β exposure regimens that are moderated and uniformly administered throughout the construct. We evaluate the performance of LTGF-β scaffolds with bovine chondrocyte-seeded agarose constructs compared to outcomes from active TGF-β media supplementation (MS) at a physiologic 0.3 ng/mL dose (MS-0.3), supraphysiologic 10 ng/mL dose (MS-10), or TGF-β free. LTGF-β scaffolds achieve native-matched mechanical properties and sGAG content, while providing a cell morphology and collagen distribution more reminiscent of hyaline cartilage. LTGF-β scaffolds further afford an optimal chondrogenic phenotype, marked by an up to 28-fold reduction of COL-I and 17-fold reduction of COL-X expression relative to TGF-β-free and MS-10, respectively. Further, LTGF-β scaffolds significantly reduce mechanical and biochemical heterogeneities relative to MS-0.3 and MS-10. Overall, LTGF-β scaffolds improve the composition, structure, material properties, and cell phenotype of neocartilage.</div></div><div><h3>Statement of significance</h3><div>Inspired by native regulatory mechanisms, we introduce a latent TGF-β conjugated scaffold that enables localized, cell-mediated activation of TGF-β at physiologic levels. This approach yields neocartilage with native-matched composition and mechanical properties, while maintaining a hyaline-cartilage-like cell phenotype and morphology, thus mitigating the adverse developmental features associated with conventional active TGF-β dosing. This bio-inspired platform offers a compelling solution to current TGF-β delivery challenges to improve cartilage regeneration outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":237,"journal":{"name":"Acta Biomaterialia","volume":"210 ","pages":"Pages 145-159"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145582532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Calcification and structural damage together accelerate porcine pericardium failure","authors":"Luke Guerin ,&nbsp;Alix Whelan ,&nbsp;Jack O’Leary ,&nbsp;Jessica Bagnall ,&nbsp;David O’Reilly ,&nbsp;Rachel Burke ,&nbsp;Evelyn Campbell ,&nbsp;Celia Hughes ,&nbsp;Emily Growney ,&nbsp;Caitríona Lally","doi":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.11.046","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.11.046","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aortic stenosis (AS) is characterised by the narrowing and stiffening of the aortic valve, which restricts blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. Severe AS is a life-threatening condition which affects 1.48 % of individuals aged 55 and older, with a four-year mortality rate of 44.9 % if left untreated. Minimally invasive treatment for AS involves the implantation of a bioprosthetic valve with porcine or bovine pericardium leaflets, which frequently succumb to failure due to regurgitation or stenosis caused in part by calcification and structural damage. The relationship between these two durability-limiting processes is debated, and the influence of device crimping on both factors is not comprehensively understood. This study aims to explore the relationship between calcification and structural damage and determine if device crimping affects these processes. First, porcine pericardium (PP) tissue was exposed to either in vitro calcification in unloaded conditions (calcification) or cyclic bulge loading in saline, without calcification (structural damage). Subsequently, PP was simultaneously calcified and cyclically loaded for 30 million cycles. Simultaneous calcification and loading led to dramatically increased calcification and structural damage, including tissue rupture. Device crimping was not found to have a significant impact on calcification or structural damage. However, fibre architecture was found to affect rupture location, and dramatically affect the rate of rupture of PP. This finding has implications for future bioprosthetic valve leaflet anti-calcification strategies, where tissue mechanics influenced by the underlying tissue fibre architecture should be considered to minimise both structural damage and calcification.</div></div><div><h3>Statement of significance</h3><div>Porcine pericardium (PP) is a commonly used biomaterial, most frequently in the leaflets of bioprosthetic valves. These devices frequently succumb to failure due to regurgitation or stenosis caused in part by calcification and structural damage of their leaflets. This work shows that calcification and structural damage work together to accelerate failure of PP, with dramatically increased calcification and structural damage of PP, including rupture, when the tissue is exposed to both simultaneously. Fibre architecture of PP was found to affect rupture location, and dramatically affect rate of rupture. This finding has implications for bioprosthetic leaflet durability, where tissue mechanics influenced by the underlying tissue fibre architecture should be considered to minimise both structural damage and calcification and maximise valve durability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":237,"journal":{"name":"Acta Biomaterialia","volume":"210 ","pages":"Pages 82-94"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145643611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Engineered extracellular vesicles as multifunctional therapeutics for restoring periodontal homeostasis","authors":"Junjie Shi ,&nbsp;Zongshuai Liu ,&nbsp;Jirong Xie ,&nbsp;Ze Zhao ,&nbsp;Xin Huang ,&nbsp;Zhengguo Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.11.060","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.11.060","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Periodontal homeostasis refers to the dynamic equilibrium between host defense, microbial control, and tissue remodeling in periodontal tissues. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the destruction of periodontal tissues, in which periodontal homeostasis is disturbed. Although many strategies have been developed, treatment of periodontitis and restoration of periodontal homeostasis remain challenging. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as a potential cell-free platform for therapeutic applications due to their intrinsic capacity for intercellular communication and biocompatibility. With the advances in engineering, EVs can be functionally tailored to exhibit improved stability, targeting, and bioactivity, attracting increasing attention as regulators for periodontal homeostasis. Accumulating evidence indicates that engineered EVs exert diverse regulatory effects in the periodontal microenvironment, including anti-bacterial activity, anti-inflammatory properties, immunomodulation, antioxidant protection, regulation of programmed cell fate, and promotion of regeneration. Such multifunctional properties enable engineered EVs to address periodontal dysregulation and contribute to the stabilization of tissue homeostasis. This review highlights recent advances in the application of engineered EVs in periodontal research, summarizes their emerging therapeutic roles across these biological domains, and emphasizes their potential as versatile modulators for the maintenance and restoration of periodontal homeostasis.</div></div><div><h3>Statement of significance</h3><div>This review uniquely integrates recent progress in engineering extracellular vesicles (EVs) with biomaterial-based strategies to restore periodontal homeostasis, a perspective not comprehensively addressed in existing literature. By systematically analyzing approaches such as cargo and surface modification, scaffold incorporation, and artificial vesicle design, it highlights how engineered EVs overcome the limitations of native vesicles and achieve multifunctional regulation of microbial, immune, and regenerative processes. This work provides insights into the convergence of materials science, nanotechnology, and oral biology, and outlines future directions for translating engineered EVs into next-generation therapeutic platforms with broad relevance for biomaterial innovation and regenerative medicine.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":237,"journal":{"name":"Acta Biomaterialia","volume":"210 ","pages":"Pages 457-480"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145643635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In vitro silicone oil emulsification in retinal detachment treatment: Methods, designs, and future strategies","authors":"Natalie Jaklová,&nbsp;Barbora Kamenická","doi":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.12.024","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actbio.2025.12.024","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Silicone oils are widely used as intraocular tamponade agents in vitreoretinal surgery, particularly in the treatment of complex retinal detachments and other severe posterior segment pathologies such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy, macular holes, ocular trauma, or endophthalmitis. While they offer mechanical support for retinal reattachment, their prolonged intraocular presence is associated with the risk of emulsification, i.e., a process in which the oil phase breaks into subvisible droplets that can obstruct aqueous outflow and compromise visual outcomes. Although emulsification is frequently attributed to interfacial shear stresses generated during ocular motion, especially saccades, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood due to the multifactorial nature of the intraocular environment. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of experimental approaches used to investigate silicone oil emulsification, including vortex systems, mechanical shakers, artificial eye chambers, and microfluidic eye-on-a-chip platforms. We critically evaluate the physicochemical and biomechanical parameters influencing droplet formation. Despite significant progress, data from current in vitro models remain heterogeneous and often difficult to compare due to differences in design, fluid composition, and analytical endpoints. Based on the collective evidence, we propose a set of experimental recommendations aimed at emulsification in vitro, including the use of high-molecular-weight modified oils, standardized fluid compositions, advanced eye-mimicking platforms, and improved experimental and analytical protocols. Finally, we highlight the potential of next-generation testing platforms and biocompatible tamponades to offer physiologically relevant, reproducible, and standardized assessment of emulsification resistance. These insights aim to guide the rational design of improved tamponade agents and testing methodologies in future vitreoretinal applications.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Statement of significance&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Silicone oils are widely used as tamponades in retinal detachment surgery, yet their long-term stability is compromised by emulsification, leading to severe complications such as glaucoma. Although many in vitro studies have attempted to model this process, their findings remain fragmented and often contradictory. This review provides the first systematic, cross-platform analysis of silicone oil emulsification, critically comparing mechanical, chamber-based, and eye-on-a-chip approaches. By identifying unifying trends, methodological gaps, and underexplored parameters such as interfacial rheology and biomechanics, it establishes a roadmap toward standardized, physiologically relevant testing. These insights are significant not only for improving current tamponade materials but also for guiding the design of next-generation biomaterials and experimental platforms at the interface of ophthalmology, biomaterials science, and fluid","PeriodicalId":237,"journal":{"name":"Acta Biomaterialia","volume":"210 ","pages":"Pages 413-440"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145758484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}