Journal of materials chemistry. B最新文献

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a life-threatening clinical syndrome characterized by metabolic imbalance of renal proximal tubular cells (PTCs), including ATP depletion, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) deficiency, and NADPH exhaustion, and current therapies such as NAD+ precursors fail to address this multi-target metabolic disorder. This highlight integrates two innovative plant photosynthesis-based systems-nanothylakoid units coated with chondrocyte membranes (CM-NTU, Chen et al., Nature, 2022, 612, 546-554) and ultrasound-responsive thylakoid-integrating liposomes (LipTk-AA, Lei et al., Nat Biomed Eng., 2025, 9(10), 1740-1757)-to propose a synergistic fused platform that overcomes the limitations of individual systems. By combining CM-NTU's modular membrane camouflage and light-driven NADPH/ATP production with LipTk-AA's ultrasound deep-tissue activation and NAD+ de novo synthesis, the fused system achieves precise targeting, spatiotemporal control, and comprehensive metabolic repair encompassing ATP, NAD+, and NADPH; we elaborate on their metabolic cross-talk, material design, and clinical translation prospects, highlighting how this fusion drives the field of metabolic-regulatory therapy beyond single-system capabilities.

This study introduces C-Clear, a novel artificial cornea based on a HEMA/MMA-based copolymer, developed through continuous polymerisation and moulding. C-Clear comprises a transparent optical core and porous support skirt, specifically designed to enhance tissue integration and minimise inflammatory responses. In vitro evaluations demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, characterised by high levels of cell adhesion and proliferation, while in vivo assessments using a rat subcutaneous model confirmed successful integration and biocompatibility. Furthermore, a 24-week corneal implantation study in rabbits validated the stability, safety, and functional potential of C-Clear. Serial ophthalmic examinations during this study period showed no significant progression of neovascularisation or inflammation. Histological analyses revealed exceptional optical clarity, robust integration with surrounding tissues, and an absence of notable foreign body responses. The implant achieved a retention rate of 75% over the 24 weeks, further highlighting its reliability. The custom-designed mould and continuous polymerisation process enabled the fabrication of C-Clear with superior structural stability, biocompatibility, and therapeutic efficacy. These findings highlight C-Clear as a significant advancement in artificial corneal development, addressing the global shortage of donor corneas and offering a promising solution for treating corneal blindness.

The rapid and personalized management of wound infections remains a significant clinical challenge. This study addresses this need by developing a smart, dual-nozzle 3D-printed theranostic hydrogel pad for on-demand wound care. The platform is based on a tailor-made Pluronic F127-dimethacrylate (PF127-DMA) hydrogel, synthesized to provide optimal printability and dual-functionality. This enables the simultaneous extrusion of two distinct bioinks: a diagnostic ink containing bromocresol purple for pH sensing and a therapeutic ink loaded with graphene oxide (GO) and the antibiotic levofloxacin. The fabricated construct acts as an intelligent wound dressing, providing a distinct visual colorimetric response to differentiate healthy skin pH (4.0-6.0) from pathogenic, alkaline infection conditions (pH 7.4-8.0). Simultaneously, the system provides pH-responsive controlled drug release, with a significantly enhanced cumulative levofloxacin release of 171.68 ± 1.59 µg at pH 8.0 compared to 134.34 ± 1.46 µg at pH 7.4, demonstrating its ability for infection-triggered therapy. The incorporation of graphene oxide was found to critically improve drug release kinetics and promote intramatrix accumulation. Furthermore, in vitro MTT assays confirmed the high biocompatibility of the hydrogel platform. By integrating real-time visual monitoring with controlled antimicrobial release, this 3D-printed theranostic system presents a promising and scalable strategy for advanced wound management.

Medical imaging techniques like X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) rely on contrast agents to enhance the visibility of blood vessels, tissues, and organs, making them crucial for medical diagnoses. Contrast agents used clinically for CT are typically small molecules containing iodine, which are associated with nephrotoxicity, often require large doses that can disrupt thyroid function, have short half-lives, and are sometimes immunogenic. Loading/functionalization of larger molecules with iodine may attenuate X-rays similarly to small molecules, but at much lower concentrations, potentially mitigating the adverse effects of current contrast agents. To test this, iodinated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) was synthesized with varying amounts of iodine and structural features and examined for use as a contrast agent. First, 5 kg mol^-1 PEG containing one terminal hydroxyl was reacted with trimethylaluminum to form a macroinitiator from which block-co-polymers consisting of PEO-co-poly(epichlorohydrin) (PECH) were synthesized with PECH blocks of 5, 15, and 30 kg mol^-1. The polymers were subsequently iodinated and characterized with ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). X-Ray attenuation was found to be similar to that of iohexol, a conventional contrast agent. Further, we found that high molecular weight polymers were completely non-cytotoxic, unlike iohexol, with polymer size the dominating factor for cytotoxicity rather than iodine concentration. As such, these new materials hold promise as medical contrast agents.

To address the systemic toxicity of the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX) and improve its targeted delivery efficiency for leukemia treatment, this study developed a folic acid (FA) receptor-targeted, photo-responsive nanodrug delivery system. The system was examined for its in vitro and in vivo antitumor performance against the K562 leukemia cell line. The core of this platform is a mesoporous covalent organic framework (COF), THPP_TK, synthesized through the following steps: (1) preparation of a singlet oxygen (¹O₂)-sensitive thioketal (TK) linker; (2) formation of the THPP_TK COF via esterification between TK and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin (THPP); (3) surface modification of THPP_TK using FA-conjugated polyethylene glycol (FA-PEG), acting as both a reaction terminator and hydrophilic coating; (4) loading of DOX into the COF mesopores to obtain the final nanodrug DOX@THPP_TK-PEG-FA. This system employs a dual photoactivation process: under 660 nm laser irradiation, the THPP component generates ¹O₂ for photodynamic therapy (PDT), while also initiating cleavage of the TK linker to enable controlled release of DOX for chemotherapy (CT). This cascade mechanism strengthens the overall antitumor response. Studies in a Balb/c nude mouse subcutaneous xenograft model using K562 cells confirmed the nanosystem's strong tumor-targeting ability, notable in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity, and reduced DOX-associated systemic toxicity.

This paper introduces quantum-inspired fractal sustainability optimization (QIFSO), a comprehensive methodology for sustainable biosensor design that transcends conventional linear assessment frameworks. By integrating mathematical principles from quantum information theory with multifractal analysis, QIFSO enables multidimensional sustainability assessment specifically calibrated for complex biosensing technologies. The framework mathematically transforms 15 sustainability parameters into a three-dimensional state space characterized by parameter resilience (PR), sustainability momentum (SM), and criticality coefficient (CC), capturing complex interdependencies that traditional approaches overlook. Hierarchical clustering analysis using optimized k-means algorithms (1500 iterations, 10 replicates) reveals four statistically distinct sustainability regimes that occur universally across biosensor applications: resilient performers, rapid evolvers, critical constraints, and steady optimizers (Davies-Bouldin index = 1.24, Calinski-Harabasz criterion = 186.3). Multifractal analysis demonstrates that this parameter space exhibits non-integer dimensionality (D_q = 2.69 ± 0.05, p < 0.01), mathematically explaining why traditional linear frameworks consistently fail to capture complex parameter behaviors. A robust power law relationship between parameter resilience and criticality coefficient (CC = 0.45 × PR^-1.68 + 0.19, R² = 0.84, p < 0.001) provides a predictive foundation for strategic optimization. We validate this approach through comprehensive in silico case studies across four biosensor categories, including wearable sensors, implantable devices, point-of-care diagnostics, and environmental monitors, drawing on the authors' domain knowledge and prior experience in the field. These analyses indicate potential sustainability improvements ranging from 18 to 52 percent. It should be emphasized that these efforts are intended solely to illustrate the framework's potential and do not represent definitive or experimentally verified outcomes. Comparative evaluation demonstrates that QIFSO-guided optimization reduces development timelines by 60% compared to conventional approaches (mean cycle: 7.3 vs. 18.2 months, p < 0.001) while significantly improving biocompatibility, sensor longevity, and environmental performance. The framework's adaptation across 14 diverse research organizations (implementation success rate = 92%) confirms its broad applicability for accelerating sustainable innovation in biosensing technologies.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) encompasses a series of pathophysiological processes, including inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy, and pyroptosis, leading to an imbalance in the microenvironment. The microenvironment following injury inhibits axonal regeneration, ultimately resulting in the loss of neurological function. Among these pathological processes, inflammation plays a critical role in the recovery from SCI. The inflammatory cascade triggered by SCI leads to cell apoptosis, cell death, and impaired angiogenesis, which collectively hinder axonal regeneration. In recent years, nano-enzymes exhibiting Prussian blue enzyme-like peroxidase activity have garnered significant attention as alternatives to natural enzymes in therapeutic applications, biosensing, and environmental remediation. Schisandra, a traditional Chinese medicine, contains schisantherin B as its principal component, which has been reported to possess neuroprotective effects in various neurological diseases. In this study, we designed a Prussian blue nanozyme drug delivery system, a schisantherin B-loaded Prussian blue nanozyme (SchB@PBzyme), for the treatment of SCI. Our findings indicate that the SchB@PBzyme significantly suppresses the inflammatory response and promotes neural remodeling, thereby offering a novel treatment strategy for SCI.

Rationally designed theranostic nanoplatforms offer a new direction for precise and personalized cancer treatments. Researchers have focused on developing multifunctional nanocarriers that can co-deliver anticancer drugs and imaging agents and achieve enhanced therapeutic effects and real-time visual monitoring by releasing their payload in response to the tumor microenvironment (TME). This study introduces a novel metal-coordinated-polyprodrug PCH@Gd featuring pH-responsive biodegradation and enhanced MRI for tumor theranostics. This platform was constructed using efficient alkyne-X click polymerization to create a high-payload polyprodrug (PCH) with an acid-sensitive backbone, built from a camptothecin (CPT) prodrug monomer (CATM) and hydroxyproline (HYP). The resulting polyprodrug has a high CPT loading capacity (46.07%), excellent physiological stability, and its nanoparticle self-assembly can be precisely controlled through metal ion coordination. Upon the introduction of metal ions, PCH@M (Gd³⁺, Mn²⁺ or Fe³⁺) forms various nanomorphologies. The PCH@Gd are capable of both pH-triggered controlled release and T₁-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In vitro and in vivo studies showed that PCH@Gd significantly inhibited tumor growth with minimal systemic toxicity, as no pathological damage was observed in major organs. The designed nanoplatform offers a promising strategy for efficient and precise theranostic agents.

Electrospun protein-based nanofibers offer a renewable and biocompatible alternative to fully synthetic materials, benefiting from the use of naturally derived components and reduced reliance on petrochemical polymers. Despite their promise, the relationship between processing conditions and fiber morphology remains poorly understood. Here, we present a systematic study of bovine serum albumin:polyethylene oxide (BSA : PEO) nanofibers, focusing on controlling morphology and functionalization for biosensing applications. Electrospinning parameters, solution composition, and pretreatment procedures were optimized to improve process stability and reproducibility of protein-based fibers with specific morphologies. To gain insight into the chemical composition of the fibers, we used advanced characterization techniques such as scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM) with nano-FTIR spectroscopy. This, combined with two-photon-excited green autofluorescence exhibited by the proteins in electrospun fibers, allowed us to examine the internal architecture and provide evidence of molecular-scale structural repeatability. The optimized BSA : PEO fibers served as a biocatalytic layer in model electrochemical biosensors for dopamine detection, showing high sensitivity and reproducibility. These findings highlight protein-polymer composites as strong candidates for potential medical diagnostics, due to their renewable origin and functional versatility. The ability to tune morphology and investigate molecular structure opens new avenues for eco-friendly materials in healthcare and analytical science.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by the interaction between oral microorganisms and the host's immune response. The vicious cycle between bacterial infection and the host immune response renders any single treatment strategy ineffective. Therefore, a sequential approach that first rapidly eradicates pathogens, followed by anti-inflammatory therapy, is undoubtedly preferable. However, sequential release often needs to the release of several drugs in a controlled order over a long period of time, so it is necessary to rely on drug carriers, which must have a large drug loading capacity and maintain long-term stability. Compared to other drug carriers, the properties of porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs) precisely meet these requirements, and PAF-82 was employed. By sequentially loading diclofenac sodium (DS), coating with polydopamine (PDA) and adsorbing metronidazole (MTZ), PAF-DS@PDA-MTZ was constructed. The experimental results showed that PAF-DS@PDA-MTZ could quickly kill Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. g.) and eliminate ROS inhibition of pro-inflammatory factors, such as TNF-α and IL-6. Validation in a rat periodontitis model confirmed the system's efficacy in reducing alveolar bone resorption and enhancing periodontal healing efficiency. This strategy of coordinating antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects through the temporal regulation of drug release provides a novel therapeutic approach for bacteria-driven diseases.