Journal of Materials Chemistry B最新文献

Tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) are pivotal in tendon regeneration, yet their therapeutic potential is hindered by inherent challenges such as erroneous differentiation and functional impairment under oxidative stress and inflammatory conditions. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as a promising therapeutic strategy to address these challenges and enhance tendon regeneration. This study investigated the effects of tendon-derived extracellular vesicles (tEVs) on the functionality of TDSCs, with a specific focus on the regulatory roles of tEVs in TDSC proliferation, migration, tenogenic differentiation, and modulation of the immune microenvironment. In vitro experiments revealed that tEVs significantly enhanced TDSC proliferation and migration, upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of key growth factors such as hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1), and facilitated their differentiation into mature tenocytes. Furthermore, tEVs were found to alleviate IL-1β-induced inflammatory responses by reducing levels of proinflammatory cytokine (TNF-α and IL-6), alleviating oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage. In conclusion, tEVs enhance the functionality of TDSCs through two primary mechanisms: enhancing TDSC activity and modulating the immune microenvironment. These findings provide novel theoretical insights and highlight potential translational strategies for applying cell-free therapies for tendon regeneration.

Severe hemorrhage and wound inflammation are major risk factors contributing to high mortality after tissue trauma. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop emergency materials that can rapidly and effectively close wounds while simultaneously controlling bleeding and infection. Although current clinical bioadhesives can fill surgical voids and support tissue repair, they generally lack sufficient adhesive strength and anti-inflammatory properties, which limit their effectiveness in inflammatory wound environments. In this study, a kind of bioadhesive hydrogel was developed using a simple heating and mixing strategy with natural building blocks, including polysaccharides, lipoic acid, and natural polyphenol extracts. Through multiple non-covalent interactions (such as hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions), the resulting bioadhesive hydrogels exhibited excellent tissue adhesion and hemostatic properties. Moreover, these hydrogels also demonstrated outstanding anti-inflammatory effects, biocompatibility, and favorable biodegradability, effectively promoting both linear and burn wound healing. This work presents a novel strategy for achieving strong bioadhesion using natural molecules and provides a promising approach for the development of multifunctional wound dressings designed to support tissue regeneration.

Advances in biomaterial-based transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDSs) are unlocking new possibilities for cancer therapy by enhancing skin permeability and enabling sustained drug release while minimizing systemic side effects. In this study, we developed a multifunctional hydrogel platform by encapsulating varying ratios of ionic liquids (ILs) into the micropores of judiciously selected metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), aiming to improve drug loading and delivery performance. Specifically, we utilized the [TMG][Ol] IL, UiO-66-NH₂ MOF, and carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt to fabricate a synergistic composite hydrogel. The resulting system demonstrated outstanding thermal stability, mechanical strength, adhesiveness, self-healing properties, and spreadability—key attributes for efficient TDDS applications. Biocompatibility assessments using HaCaT cells showed ∼90% cell viability, confirming its cytocompatibility. Composite hydrogels prepared with [TMG][Ol]@UiO-66-NH₂ at ratios of 0.1 : 1 (G1) and 0.25 : 1 (G2) exhibited high drug-loading capacities of 671 mM and 397.8 mM for 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), respectively. In vitro transdermal drug penetration over 48 hours reached 76.4% for G1 and 82.7% for G2. Furthermore, cytotoxicity studies on A431 (epidermoid carcinoma) and MCF-7 (breast cancer) cancer cell lines confirmed the therapeutic potential of the drug-loaded hydrogels. Overall, the biocompatible [TMG][Ol]@UiO-66-NH₂-based hydrogel system offers a promising strategy for the transdermal delivery of hydrophilic anticancer agents, supporting its potential for future clinical translation in cancer therapy.

Molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMIPs) represent a promising class of synthetic recognition elements with growing potential as robust alternatives to antibodies in diagnostic and sensing technologies. Despite widespread use, limited attention has been given to how solid-phase synthesis parameters, particularly the nature of the solid support and template identity, affect nanoMIP composition and function. Herein, we present a systematic investigation comparing popular glass bead and magnetic nanoparticle solid-phase protocols for nanoMIP synthesis targeting protein templates bovine haemoglobin (BHb) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Using an identical functional monomer feed and surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based affinity assays, we demonstrate that the choice of solid-phase significantly influences particle size, yield, and binding affinity, with nanoMIPs synthesized on glass beads exhibiting up to a tenfold enhancement in binding performance compared to those produced on magnetic nanoparticles. Furthermore, 1H NMR analysis reveals substantial deviations between initial monomer feed ratios and final polymer compositions, with polymer structure being highly dependent on both the solid phase and template characteristics. These findings highlight the importance of rational nanoMIP design, by challenging assumptions of uniform polymer composition and revealing how template and solid-phase interactions shape material properties. Our work establishes a framework for engineering high-performance synthetic receptors with tuneable properties and offers key insights for the optimisation of nanoMIP-based applications and sets new benchmarks for material consistency, reproducibility, and potential commercialisation.

Retraction of ‘Hydrogel microneedles with a multifunctional strategy for prolonged hyperuricemia management’ by Rui Wang et al., J. Mater. Chem. B, 2025, Accepted Manuscript, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TB02590C.

Due to the excellent biocompatibility and adjustability, hydrogels have broadened their application in different fields, such as 3D printing, tissue engineering, drug delivery, and biosensing. However, traditional hydrogel research is confronted with low screening efficiency and insufficient design and characterization methods. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a revolutionary tool for hydrogel research. AI technologies such as machine learning and deep learning have driven hydrogels towards intelligence and functionality. This article reviews the innovations of AI in the design and performance optimization of hydrogels, as well as their multi-scenario applications, such as 3D printing, environmental detection, and wound healing. Finally, the limitations, challenges and strategies for AI-driven hydrogel research are discussed. In conclusion, the cross-integration of AI and hydrogels has become an important trend of scientific research, providing new tools for the research of new hydrogel materials.

Combinatorial cancer therapy that combines photodynamic therapy with chemotherapy has gained tremendous importance in recent times. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in cancer cells via photosensitizer-loaded polymeric nanoparticles represents one of the non-invasive methods for cancer treatment. As a proof of concept, herein, we demonstrate a molecular design based on a fully degradable polyester scaffold featuring a photosensitizer for targeted ROS generation in cancer cells. An enzymatically degradable, amphiphilic polyester was synthesized by organocatalyzed step-growth polymerization via a transesterification reaction between an activated diester and functional diols, incorporating a phenothiazine dye as the photosensitizer and biotin as the targeting ligand, since biotin receptors are known to be overexpressed in cancer cells. The polymer self-assembled into nanoaggregates in water, exhibiting selective uptake in cancer cells (HeLa and MCF7) with ROS-generating ability upon light irradiation, which caused significant cytotoxic effects. In addition, the hydrophobic core within the nanoaggregates exhibits the ability to encapsulate a chemotherapeutic drug, doxorubicin, and selectively release it in cancer cells.

To address the problems associated with pathogenic bacteria in healthcare settings, the development of novel antibacterial materials is of high priority. For such purposes, endophytic fungi – symbiotic microorganisms residing within healthy plant tissues – represent a promising yet largely unexplored source of antibacterial compounds. In this study, an antibacterial extract derived from an endophytic Alternaria fungus previously isolated from Eremophila longifolia was incorporated within gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) to produce a novel antibacterial hydrogel. Whilst rheological and compression testing revealed the addition of the extract resulted in reduction in the crosslink density of the hydrogel, all GelMA-extract formulations produced a solid mechanical stable hydrogel. The GelMA hydrogel containing a range of extract concentrations demonstrated variable inhibition of bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus) growth, with a concentration of 10 mg mL⁻¹ extract demonstrating complete inhibition over 24 h, while showing no toxicity toward brine shrimp nauplii, indicating good biocompatibility. The GelMA-extract demonstrated minimal rapid release from the hydrogel, followed by a slower release at longer times. As such, the developed hydrogel composite is promising for antibacterial applications in biomedical settings, while the results also highlight the potential for utilising endophytic extracts in the development of novel antibacterial materials.

The application of cost-effective and readily available near-infrared (NIR)-responsive materials for photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensing of opaque samples remains limited. Herein, we report a precise synthetic strategy for narrow optical bandgap polymeric carbon nitrides (pCNs) with dangling bonds. Interestingly, the final product C/N ratio and repeating unit of the formed pCNs precisely match those of the original N-heterocyclic ligand molecule. It was revealed that the inert Zn²⁺ with filled d-orbitals is crucial for guiding radical polymerization towards desired dangling-bond pCN formation, providing insights for future pCN synthesis. By following this strategy, rather than traditional C₃N₄, a new pCN with a C/N ratio of 7 : 2 and a bandgap of 1.17 eV was synthesized using two distinct precursors. The integration of experimental and DFT data confirmed that dangling bonds significantly narrowed the bandgap via β-HOMO to LUMO transitions, imparting a distinct NIR PEC response. Leveraging this unique capability, sensitive tetracycline detection was achieved in opaque human whole blood, demonstrating its significant clinical potential.

Photodynamic therapy efficiency is constrained by tumor hypoxia and insufficient photosensitizer accumulation. To address these limitations, an oxygen-supplying nanoplatform was developed through function-oriented polymer design. Briefly, an amphiphilic copolymer (PFOC-PEI) was firstly synthesized through chemical conjugation of perfluorooctanoic acid with branched polyethyleneimine, forming micelles capable of encapsulating chlorin e6, while alleviating hypoxia via fluorocarbon-mediated oxygen delivery. To enhance tumor-selective delivery for biocompatibility, a pH-responsive polyanion (PEI-DMMA) derived from 2,3-dimethylmaleic anhydride modification was integrated, yielding composite micelles (Ce6-PFOC-PEI/PEI-DMMA) with tumor stimulus responsiveness charge reversal and oxygen carrying capabilities. The nanocarrier maintained negative surface charge under physiological conditions to prolong blood circulation, while switching to positive charge at tumor sites through microenvironmental-triggered cleavage of acid-labile amide bonds, thereby enhancing tumor accumulation. In vitro studies demonstrated 1.5-fold higher cellular uptake of Ce6-PFOC-PEI/PEI-DMMA under acidic conditions compared to non-hydrolytic controls (Ce6-PFOC-PEI/PEI-SA), correlating with enhanced ROS generation in C6 glioma cells. The improved phototoxicity was evidenced by lower IC50 values against C6 cells. In vivo evaluation revealed 87% tumor growth inhibition in C6 tumor-bearing nude mice of Ce6-PFOC-PEI/PEI-DMMA, which is superior to those of Ce6-PFOC-PEI/PEI-SA (69%) and Ce6-PFOC-PEI (73%). This oxygen self-supplying platform integrates fluorocarbon-mediated oxygenation with pH-responsive charge reversal, demonstrating enhanced PDT efficacy while maintaining favorable biosafety.