Materials Science & Engineering C-Materials for Biological Applications最新文献

Periodontitis is caused by dental plaque that triggers the host immune responses by the dysregulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to the destruction of local tissues such as gingiva, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone. With its high prevalence, periodontitis impacts the oral health of billions worldwide. Clinical therapy for periodontitis relies on mechanical debridement and adjunctive antibiotics, strategies that often result in incomplete efficacy and a high recurrence rate. The development of cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria), which exhibits enzyme-like catalytic activity and biocompatibility, enables targeted redox modulation to restore ROS balance, showing promise for clinical treatment. Based on above, this article focuses on the pathogenesis of periodontitis and the regulatory functions of ROS, and summarizes the design principles, functional engineering, and therapeutic mechanisms of nanoceria for periodontal therapy. Furthermore, the review outlines preventive strategies against periodontitis based on nanoceria. It then discusses the associated clinical challenges and future prospects. Overall, this work provides a comprehensive overview of nanoceria as the redox-based strategy for periodontal management.

Intraoperative bleeding associated with bone defects often impairs surgical outcomes. Traditional hemostatic bone wax acts as a passive, non-degradable barrier, whose biological inertness typically triggers inflammation and hinders bone regeneration. To overcome the limitations of bioinert bone wax, absorbable alternatives composed of bioceramic particles and absorbable polymer matrices have been attempted. However, in clinical practice such as endoscopic orthopedic procedures, the applied hemostatic agent needs to resist washout in dynamic aqueous environments, adhere firmly to bleeding bone surfaces, and form an in situ physical matrix for dual hemostatic and osteogenic functions. To address this need, we prepared a self-setting, fluid-resistant composite candidate: magnesium phosphate-based bone putty (MPP). This material is formulated with magnesium oxide (MgO) and dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (K₂HPO₄) dispersed in a pregelatinized starch-polyethylene glycol (PEG) matrix. MPP can undergo rapid acid-base reactions in aqueous environments to form a magnesium phosphate matrix in situ, which converts the putty-like paste into a bone-like solid in the bleeding area. In vitro tests such as underwater adhesion, liquid sealing, hemocompatibility, and cytocompatibility verified the prospects of MPP in dynamic aqueous environments. Moreover, the as-formed matrix degraded gradually, with mass loss increasing from 22.44 ± 1.97% on day 1 to 34.52 ± 2.55% on day 7. Besides, MPP exhibited stronger coagulation activation than bone wax, along with a low hemolysis rate of 3.24 ± 1.36% and enhanced osteoblast adhesion, proliferation, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression. In vivo rat models further confirmed that MPP outperformed commercial bone wax in intraoperative hemostasis and postoperative bone regeneration. Ultimately, MPP is highlighted for its immediate bleeding control and sustained osteogenesis, capable of serving as a promising orthopedic hemostatic agent for clinical applications.

This study reports the development of dual-functional, dissolvable microneedle array patches (MN) integrating chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), 2-deoxy-d-ribose (2dDR), and zinc oxide (ZnO) for chronic wound healing applications. The developed MN arrays were characterized using FTIR and SEM, which confirmed the successful incorporation of all components without any undesired chemical reactions, as well as the maintenance of sharp structural integrity of the MNs. Drug release studies demonstrated rapid 2dDR delivery, along with successful penetration into goat ear pinna skin, while antibacterial assays showed concentration-dependent inhibition of S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus by ZnO-containing MNs. Biocompatibility and regenerative potential were assessed through cell viability, fibroblast migration, and CAM assays, indicating enhanced angiogenesis and cell proliferation. In Vivo evaluation using a Sprague-Dawley rat full-thickness wound model revealed that the D1Z-MN formulation (0.1% ZnO) achieved the highest wound closure rate (95% by day 11), superior neovascularization, reduced inflammation, greater re-epithelialization (78.33%), and increased collagen deposition (82.33%) compared to other groups. These results demonstrate that combining 2dDR with an optimal concentration of ZnO in MN patches offers a multifunctional, minimally invasive strategy for infection control, angiogenesis stimulation, and tissue regeneration in wounds.

Advancements in bone tissue engineering have increased interest in 3D-printed scaffolds for bone regeneration. Polylactic acid (PLA), a biocompatible and biodegradable polyester, is a promising candidate for bone scaffold materials. Reinforcing PLA with inorganic nanotubes of tungsten disulfide (INT-WS₂) offers new possibilities for scaffold design. INT-WS₂ is an innovative material known for its chemical stability, non-toxicity, and favorable mechanical properties. Integrating PLA with INT-WS₂ marks a pioneering development in bone scaffold technology, providing a safer, more effective alternative to other nanofillers, such as TiO₂ nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes, which face challenges related to cytotoxicity and dispersion. This study adds an important aspect to the characterization of this material by investigating the cytocompatibility and hydrolytic degradation effects on 3D-printed samples of PLA reinforced with 0.5 wt% INT-WS₂. The samples are proposed as structurally suitable candidate for load-bearing 3D-printed bone scaffolds, with the femur chosen as the upper-limit mechanical benchmark. Controlled hydrolytic degradation of PLA/INT-WS₂ samples was conducted over 12 weeks under human-body simulated conditions. Results demonstrated that the material underwent bulk degradation while maintaining mass and surface hardness. Although the ultimate tensile strength progressively decreased to two-thirds of its initial value, potentially allowing gradual loading of the growing bone, it remained significantly higher than the maximum stress experienced by the human femur during normal walking. Furthermore, the PLA/INT-WS₂ nanocomposite exhibited non-toxic behavior, promoting cell viability and proliferation. Despite the need for a longer experiment to fully assess the degradation rate, these findings support PLA/INT-WS₂ as a promising candidate for tailored 3D-printed bone scaffolds designed for individual patients.

This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism through which luteolin/polyvinyl alcohol/sodium alginate (Lut/PVA/SA) hydrogel promotes the healing of pressure injury (PI), thereby offering optimized strategies for clinical management. Four formulations of PVA/SA hydrogel were synthesized using chemical cross-linking combined with freeze-thaw cycles. The optimal formulation was then selected based on its physicochemical properties to construct the Lut/PVA/SA drug delivery system. The characterization and biocompatibility of the materials were evaluated by CCK-8 assay, PI/Calcein-AM double staining, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. A stage II PI model was established in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats to evaluate therapeutic efficacy and histopathological changes. Network pharmacology identified potential targets of Lut, with KEGG enrichment analysis and systematic literature review predicting the underlying mechanisms. RT-qPCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence were performed to assess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects of the hydrogel. The result showed that Lut/PVA/SA hydrogel exhibited superior physicochemical properties and significantly accelerated wound healing. Treatment with the hydrogel enhanced collagen deposition and increased expression of α-SMA and Collagen I. Compared with model group, treatment with Lut/PVA/SA hydrogel activated the NRF2/HO-1 signaling pathway, upregulated the level of SOD and CAT, while downregulated the level of MDA. Additionally, in the Lut/PVA/SA hydrogel groups, the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins BAX and Caspase 3 were downregulated, the expression of anti-apoptotic protein BCL2 was upregulated, resulting in the restoration of the BAX/BCL2 ratio. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) were significantly suppressed. In conclusion, Lut/PVA/SA hydrogel can effectively promote the healing of stage II PI in SD rats. Its therapeutic effect may be attributed to the enhanced antioxidant capacity by activating the NRF2/HO-1 pathway, regulating the BAX/BCL2 ratio to inhibit fibroblast apoptosis, further alleviating the inflammatory microenvironment. These actions collectively promote collagen synthesis to facilitate wound repair.

Corneal neovascularization (CNV) is a sight-threatening pathological process that poses the challenge of controlling inflammation, preventing infection, and thereby inhibiting angiogenesis. To address this, we developed a novel pH-responsive smart micelle-integrated hydrogel, termed LEV@DG-HPMC. This system is composed of a three-dimensional network formed by dipotassium glycyrrhizinate (DG) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) for the delivery of levofloxacin (LEV). The hydrogel network is formed by physical cross-linking. Within this system, LEV provides potent antibacterial activity, while DG contributes inherent anti-inflammatory properties. The LEV@DG-HPMC hydrogel demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and significantly prolonged ocular surface retention. Its unique pH-responsive drug release profile closely matched the temporal pH changes in the pathological microenvironment post-alkali injury. Crucially, the hydrogel exhibited synergistic therapeutic effects, combining potent antibacterial activity with the ability to significantly downregulate key inflammatory cytokines and suppress pro-angiogenic factors, such as such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, nuclear factor-κB, vascular endothelial growth factor A, matrix metalloproteinase-9. Consequently, it effectively inhibited CNV progression, reduced corneal opacity, and promoted corneal repair. This multifunctional smart hydrogel represents a highly promising strategy for the treatment of CNV.