Biomaterials Science最新文献

Psoriasis has been successfully treated by directly blocking the interleukin (IL)-23/IL-17 pathway and several inhibitors that specifically target the IL-23/IL-17 signaling axis have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for clinical use and show excellent efficacy. However, all the approved IL-23/IL-17 axis targeting agents cannot be non-invasively delivered as topical treatment due to their biological and physicochemical properties, e.g., susceptibility to degradation, large molecular size, hydrophobicity and charge. Herein, we used novel ionic liquid biomaterials, amino acid esters and octanoic acids, as a non-invasive transdermal drug delivery system for bicyclic peptide inhibitors targeted to IL-23R and IL-17A. Using phenotypical images, psoriasis area and severity index, hematoxylin–eosin, and immunohistochemistry, we demonstrate that a biocompatible ionic liquid-based topical delivery approach of peptide inhibitors alleviates psoriasis in an imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse model. Flow cytometry of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) within the spleen, peripheral blood, and lesional epidermis shows that treatment with ionic liquids-peptides selectively blocks and reconfigures the spectrum of skin-resident and circulating ILCs. These results provide a framework for a topical delivery approach for peptides. Our findings highlight the potential of topical administration of peptide inhibitors of the IL-23/IL-17 pathway by biocompatible ionic liquids to treat psoriasis. The main immunopathogenic mechanism of peptide inhibitors mitigating psoriasis is reconfiguration of a spectrum of skin-resident and circulating ILCs.

Despite the high sensitivity of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) to tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) therapy, its efficacy was limited by rapid systemic clearance and treatment tolerance. To overcome these barriers, we developed a pH-responsive nanoparticle-to-hydrogel system for long-lasting retention of TRAIL receptors at the tumour site and promoting apoptosis in TRAIL-sensitive TNBC cells. The nanoparticle core, composed of soluble TRAIL (sTRAIL) and terpyridine (TPY), was assembled via silk fibroin self-polymerization, while a metal–polyphenol (MPN) complexation structure imparts a pH-responsive outer shell. After peritumoral injection, the slightly acidic tumour microenvironment transiently degraded MPN, releasing dihydromyricetin (DMY) to upregulate the TRAIL receptor DR5, whereas Fe³⁺ covalently bound TPY, triggering nanoparticle-to-gel conversion. The system achieved a high DMY loading via the MPN network, rapidly released DMY under acidic tumour microenvironment conditions, and induced apoptotic receptor DR5 upregulation within 24 h. Dynamic covalent bond reconstitution converted nanoparticles into a hydrogel in situ, forming a stable library for sustained TRAIL release. Compared with conventional gels, this sequential fast-activation and continuous synergistic apoptosis strategy minimized burst release, extended TRAIL activity beyond six days, and localized the drug to the lesion area, increasing the local concentration of the drug while reducing systemic exposure. In vitro and in vivo studies confirmed enhanced apoptosis through dual-drug synergy with minimal systemic toxicity. This dynamic switching strategy delivery offers an innovative platform for protein–small molecule co-therapy, addressing TNBC resistance, and holds translational potential for clinical applications.

Red blood cell-derived extracellular vesicles (RBC-EVs) are emerging as promising biomaterials for next-generation drug delivery, owing to their intrinsic biocompatibility, immune-evasion properties, and minimal oncogenic risk. However, their broader application is currently limited by unresolved challenges related to heterogeneity, reproducibility, and long-term storage stability. By combining discontinuous sucrose density gradient separation with high-resolution interferometric nanoparticle tracking analysis, we identified a sharp bimodal size distribution of vesicles in freshly prepared samples. We then tracked how long-term storage at −80 °C drove their conversion into a monomodal distribution. To reproduce these conditions in a shorter time frame, we developed an “accelerated-ageing” protocol based on freeze–thaw cycles that generates RBC-EV samples with homogeneous density, size distribution, and biological activity, effectively replicating the properties of preparations stored for six months at −80 °C. This new vesicle population remains stable and retains membrane integrity and cellular internalization capacity, as confirmed by surface-associated enzymatic activity assays and uptake tests in cancer cell lines. These results suggest that freezing-induced “accelerated ageing” represents an effective method for the optimization and standardization of RBC-EVs as building blocks for biomaterial and bioengineering applications.

Nanoarchitectured molybdenum oxides (MoO_x) have emerged as promising artificial enzymes, capable of mimicking a broad range of enzymatic activities, including oxidase, peroxidase, catalase, and sulfite oxidase, owing to their unique physicochemical properties such as variable oxidation states, tunable electronic structures, and pH-responsive biodegradability. In addition, MoO_x-based systems demonstrate strong photoresponsiveness, enabling the synergistic integration of enzymatic catalysis with photothermal (PTT) or photodynamic (PDT) therapies under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. Their excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability further highlight their potential for biomedical applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the design, synthesis, and bioapplications of MoO_x nanozymes, with an emphasis on their structural versatility and multifunctional therapeutic capabilities. Through strategies such as defect engineering, surface functionalization, and heteroatom doping, the enzyme-mimicking activities of MoO_x nanozymes can be finely tuned, enabling outstanding performance in biosensing, antitumor and antimicrobial therapies, and antioxidation. Finally, the review outlines the prospects and key challenges in translating these innovative nanoplatforms into clinical applications.

Correction for ‘Artificial testis: a testicular tissue extracellular matrix as a potential bio-ink for 3D printing’ by Zahra Bashiri et al., Biomater. Sci., 2021, 9, 3465–3484, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0BM02209H.

Osteochondral (OC) tissue faces significant challenges in defect repair due to its unique gradient characteristics. Bionic gradient scaffolds have been developed to address this issue, whose anisotropic three-dimensional structures can achieve gradual transitions in physical and chemical properties, providing innovative solutions for tissue regeneration. This review first focuses on the multidimensional gradient characteristics of natural OC tissue, including its composition, structure, performance, and metabolism, and provides an in-depth discussion of its significance for the design of biomimetic scaffolds. Second, it summarizes the current research progress on the construction strategy of gradient scaffolds. On this basis, this review innovatively proposes a systematic interface optimization strategy for discrete gradient scaffolds and summarizes the latest research progress on the gradient characterization and controllability of continuous gradient scaffolds. Finally, based on the current advances of research, this paper evaluates the main challenges facing this field and reviews the prospects in future development directions, providing new theoretical perspectives and technical routes for OC tissue engineering research.

Respiratory diseases such as COPD, IPF and severe asthma are major causes of death globally, characterized by chronic inflammation and by fibrotic biomechanical remodelling of the lung ECM. However, present treatments focus on relieving inflammation and symptoms and do not address the mechanobiological aspect. This is in great part because the role of mechanobiology in disease progression and aetiology is not well-understood, indicating a need for new investigatory models. Here we introduce a combined biomaterial and 3D-organoid model, based on a hybrid biomaterial-matrix double-network gel, whose mechanical properties are dynamically photocontrolled by the application of light. This combines basement membrane extract (Matrigel) with biocompatible polymer (poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate), and a low-toxicity photoinitation system. We achieve rapid (<5 min) photoinduced stiffening over the range of remodelled lung tissue (up to ∼140 kPa). Bronchosphere organoids from primary human bronchial epithelial cells, embedded within the hybrid gel, replicate airway physiology and exhibit a dynamic biological response to matrix stiffening. We show that the expression of mucus proteins MUC5AC and MUC5B is biomechanically enhanced over a period of 24–72 h, with in particular MUC5B showing a substantial response at 48 h after matrix stiffening. Mucus hypersecretion is a symptom of respiratory disease, and these results support the hypothesis that biomechanics is a driver of disease aetiology. We combine the photostiffened hybrid matrix gel with organoids from COPD donors, generating an advanced disease model including both cellular and biomechanical aspects. We propose this technology platform for evaluating mechanomodulatory therapeutics in respiratory disease.

Four-dimensional (4D) printing enables the creation of dynamic structures that can change, altering their shape, properties, or functionality in response to stimuli over time by incorporating time as a fourth dimension. This revolutionary approach has gotten significant attention across various fields, with recent advancements in integrating smart biomaterials, biological components, and living cells into dynamic, three-dimensional (3D) constructs. Among the myriad of biomaterials available, protein-based (PB) polymers have emerged as promising due to their inherent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to interact with and mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM). This review provides a comprehensive overview of 4D bioprinting, involving PB bioinks, and explores key principles, mechanisms, strategies, and types. It discusses essential requirements, such as printability, biodegradation, and mechanical integrity, as well as strategies for designing stimuli-responsive 4D bioinks. Furthermore, it comprehensively explores emerging trends in applying these bioinks for the 4D bioprinting of tissue scaffolds and their utility in disease modeling. Finally, it addresses current challenges and prospects, aiming to provide readers with a thorough understanding of recent developments in this groundbreaking technology towards adaptability in regenerative medicine and disease models.

Correction for ‘TPP-coated Mo-doped W₁₈O₄₉ biodegradable nanomaterials with mitochondria-targeting and pH-responsive properties for synergistic photothermal therapy/chemodynamic therapy/chemotherapy’ by Yingjuan Ren et al., Biomater. Sci., 2025, 13, 6138–6155, https://doi.org/10.1039/D5BM00833F.

Catechol-based surface functionalization has emerged as a powerful strategy for tailoring material properties and enabling diverse applications, owing to its robust adhesive capabilities and broad substrate compatibility. Inspired by mussel foot proteins and popularized by dopamine-derived polydopamine coatings, catechol grafting has evolved into a versatile platform for anchoring molecules of interest (MOI) onto surfaces. This review focuses on the synthetic strategies for direct covalent modification of active compounds—such as polymers, peptides, and small molecules—with catechol moieties, bypassing the limitations of traditional bottom-up and co-deposition approaches. By examining the reactivity profiles of catechol precursors and their coupling chemistries, we aim to provide a comprehensive framework for designing functional coatings with enhanced performance and simplified processing. This work fills a critical gap in the literature by offering practical guidelines for researchers seeking to harness catechol chemistry in advanced material engineering.