Biomaterials Science最新文献

Chronic inflammation at the implant-tissue interface is a major contributor to implant failure. Therefore, enhancing the biological response of titanium (Ti) surfaces is critical for promoting early osseointegration and improving long-term implant stability. In this study, alkali-heat-treated (AHT) Ti was evaluated as a platform for the controlled delivery of curcumin (Cur), a natural anti-inflammatory compound. The release kinetics of curcumin and the interactions between curcumin-loaded AHT Ti surfaces and RAW264.7 macrophages were investigated in vitro. Various polymer coating strategies were applied to modulate curcumin release. The presence of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) reduced the curcumin release under both physiological (pH 7.4) and acidic (pH 5.0) conditions, with uncoated AHT samples exhibiting the greatest cumulative release (∼21.3 μg) in Study 1. Increasing the loaded curcumin amount from 100 to 300 μg resulted in a decrease in the release for both pH 7.4 and pH 5.0, whereas the incorporation of polyethylene glycol/polycaprolactone (PEG/PCL) coating enhanced the gradual curcumin release (Study 2). Increasing the curcumin loading from 50 to 100 and 300 μg increased the total amount of curcumin released, with the 300 μg group exhibiting a more gradual release profile. However, the percentage of curcumin released decreased as the loading amount increased (Study 3). When macrophages were cultured on Ti surfaces, AHT samples exhibited higher cell viability than polished (P) control samples, and the presence of curcumin reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. While macrophages cultured on AHT surfaces exhibited a transient increase in pro-inflammatory marker expression at 24 h compared with polished surfaces, the expression of these markers was reduced by 48 h. Notably, curcumin significantly decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression at both the gene and protein levels and suppressed NF-κB activation in macrophages exposed to inflammatory stimuli. Overall, the sustained and controlled release of curcumin from AHT Ti surface is highly dependent on the curcumin loading amount as well as the presence and composition of the polymer coating. Moreover, both AHT and curcumin significantly reduced inflammatory responses in macrophages, demonstrating the potential of the curcumin-loaded AHT Ti platform as an immunomodulatory surface for improving the biological performance and long-term success of Ti implants.

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds are widely utilized in tissue engineering for their biodegradability and mechanical robustness; however, their inherent hydrophobicity and bioinert nature often result in poor initial cell attachment, a critical bottleneck for stable tissue integration. In this study, we developed a modular dual-layer surface functionalization strategy that combines a poly-L-lysine (PLL) electrostatic priming layer with a recombinant elastin-like polypeptide featuring RGD and YIGSR motifs (RY-ELP). The sequential PLL/RY-ELP coating significantly enhanced surface wettability without compromising the scaffold's interconnected porous architecture. This bioactive interface supported robust early adhesion and survival of both HEK293 cells (as a model for weak adherence) and human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). Mechanistically, this enhanced interaction was accompanied by the rapid activation of focal adhesion-related signaling pathways, including FAK, paxillin, and ERK, alongside the upregulated expression of integrin β1 and vinculin. Beyond initial survival, the PLL/RY-ELP coating effectively promoted the osteogenic differentiation of hDPSCs, as evidenced by increased osteogenic marker expression (RUNX2, COL1A1, ALPL, SP7, and BGLAP) and superior matrix mineralization. These findings demonstrate that combining electrostatic priming with sequence-defined bioactive motifs offers a versatile and effective approach to overcome the biological limitations of PLGA scaffolds for regenerative medicine.

Chronic endometritis (CE) is a persistent inflammatory disorder of the endometrium characterized by aberrant plasma cell infiltration and strongly associated with female infertility. CE pathogenesis is driven by persistent microbial stimulation, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and local immune dysregulation, whereas antibiotics and hysteroscopic surgery do not sufficiently resolve the sustained oxidative-inflammatory microenvironment. A sprayable antioxidant powder, RuO₂@GelMA@TA-Fe³⁺ (RGTF), is developed for localized remodeling of endometrial oxidative-inflammatory homeostasis. A tannic acid-Fe³⁺ metal-phenolic network (MPN) serves as a functional interfacial layer, providing wet-tissue adhesion, prolonged local retention, and complementary free-radical scavenging, while embedded RuO₂ nanozymes enable efficient ROS elimination. Optimized RGTF exhibits favorable sprayability, hydration-triggered tissue adhesion, and robust scavenging activity against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and multiple representative free radicals. In vitro, RGTF reduces intracellular ROS in H₂O₂-stimulated human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) and promotes macrophage transition from a pro-inflammatory to a reparative phenotype. In a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced rat CE model, local RGTF treatment alleviates oxidative damage and inflammation, promotes endometrial structural restoration, and rescues fertility-related dysfunction. This MPN-enabled platform provides a promising local strategy for CE intervention.

Correction for 'Mechanical stress-driven conformational compaction of polydeoxyribonucleotide for enhanced transdermal regenerative therapy' by Saetbyeol Jeon et al., Biomater. Sci., 2026, 14, 3995-4005, https://doi.org/10.1039/d6bm00713a.

Effective treatment for malignant tumors continues to represent an urgent unmet clinical need. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) constitutes a therapeutic challenge on account of its aggressive nature and limited response to conventional therapies. Radiotherapy serves as a cornerstone for cervical cancer treatment. Nevertheless, radioresistance frequently gives rise to therapeutic failure in cervical cancer. We developed ultrasmall, pH-responsive DNA@WO_3-x nanodots to enhance the accumulation of nanodots within tumors, thereby improving therapeutic efficacy. The nanodots undergo intelligent self-assembly within the acidic tumor microenvironment, leading to enhanced accumulation and retention. DNA@WO_3-x functions dually as an effective computed tomography (CT) contrast agent for tumor visualization and a potent radiosensitizer. The high-Z element tungsten and remarkable photothermal conversion capability in the NIR-II window enable synergistic radio-photothermal therapy (RT-PTT). In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that the combined treatment via single-nanodot triple-therapeutic effects potently suppresses the growth of tumor cells. Consequently, this synergistic strategy achieved remarkable inhibition of primary tumor growth and suppression of distant metastasis in orthotopic TNBC models, with no significant systemic toxicity observed. Furthermore, in vitro validation experiments verified that the developed nanodots can effectively sensitize cervical cancer cells to radiotherapy, thereby achieving prominent anti-tumor therapeutic effects. This work presents a versatile and integrated theranostic strategy that realizes potent tumor suppression via single-nanodot triple-therapeutic effects, offering a promising approach for the precise and effective treatment of aggressive solid tumors.

Enhancing tumor accumulation after systemic administration while minimizing off-target hepatic deposition remains a major challenge for effective cancer therapy. Herein, we developed a "prime-and-hitch" two-step nanoplatform strategy to address this issue. A PEGylated Ce6 prodrug (CPD) was administered via a single low-dose intratumoral injection, enabling sustained intratumor retention for up to 10 days. Laser irradiation induced a temporally controlled acute inflammatory response, with inflammatory cytokines and neutrophil infiltration peaking at 1 h. In this optimal window, an acidic tumor microenvironment-responsive PEGylated gossypol prodrug functionalized with an anti-Ly6G antibody (αLy6G-pGPD) was intravenously injected to enable binding to circulating neutrophils via Ly6G-specific recognition, thereby achieving neutrophil "hitchhiking"-mediated active tumor targeting. Copper ions (Cu²⁺) were subsequently coordinated to generate αLy6G-pGPD@Cu, enabling the combined induction of tumor cuproptosis and M1 polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). In vivo, the combination of a single low dose CPD administration with repeated laser irradiation and αLy6G-pGPD@Cu treatment markedly suppressed 4T1 tumor growth while increasing the infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and M1-polarized TAMs within the tumor microenvironment. Collectively, this single low-dose, multiple irradiation-mediated neutrophil hitchhiking strategy provides a robust and versatile platform for extrahepatic targeting delivery and enhanced tumor accumulation of nanotherapeutics.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is one of the most prevalent primary malignant bone tumours, with a poor prognosis in metastatic cases due to its aggressive nature, high metastatic potential and frequent resistance to conventional therapies. A most crucial approach for investigating drug resistance, metastasis and tumour progression is the recapitulation of the complex tumour microenvironment (TME), which is limited in traditional 2D cell cultures. Sophisticated 3D in vitro models developed via recent advances in materials sciences and cancer biology including cell spheroids, organoids and scaffold-based and hydrogel-based systems more precisely mimic the tumour microenvironment, thus offering deeper insights into tumour biology and therapeutic responses. Hydrogels inherently provide biomimetic cues that promote cell adhesion, proliferation & differentiation, particularly their porous and hydrated characteristics closely replicate the native extracellular matrix. Most importantly, hydrogels can be used for OS therapy both as a depot for therapeutic agents and scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration. This approach could be particularly promising for adjuvant therapy of tumours, as it provides options for both treatment and tissue regeneration. This review explores the emerging innovations in hydrogel-based OS in vitro models, their fabrication methods and applications in drug screening and adjuvant therapies. Furthermore, the challenges in clinical translation and advancing OS models for clinical applications are discussed. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives are outlined by emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary collaboration to advance OS research and therapy.

Cardiovascular diseases continue to exhibit high global morbidity and mortality rates, driving urgent demand for the development of small-diameter (diameter < 6 mm) vascular grafts. Current small-diameter vascular grafts exhibit low patency rates in vascular reconstruction due to incomplete endothelial coverage. The design of vascular grafts with spontaneous endothelialization is critically needed. Herein, we developed an on-demand ROS-responsive polycaprolactone (PCL) graft modified with puerarin (PUE) and hyaluronic acid (HA) by electrospinning. In this study, PCL mimicked the structure of native blood vessels, and PUE-HA encouraged the antioxidation and endothelialization of vascular grafts with improved biocompatibility. The PUE-HA-PCL graft could promote the adhesion and proliferation of endothelial cells (ECs) and facilitate the process of tissue regeneration. Moreover, the grafts remained completely unobstructed with well-organized elastin fibers for 3 months after implantation. Taken together, the results effectively demonstrate that PUE-HA-PCL will be a promising functional small-diameter vascular graft with spontaneous endothelialization.

Seawater-immersed (SWI) wounds are characterized by the synergistic effects of hypothermia, hyperosmotic stress, the alkaline and ion-rich seawater microenvironment, and marine Vibrio infections, which collectively impair wound healing and elevate the risk of complications. Conventional dressings are poorly suited for harsh marine environments because they cannot simultaneously offer antibacterial activity, regulate the wound microenvironment, and support tissue repair. This review outlines the core pathological mechanisms of SWI wounds and surveys recent advances in multifunctional dressings, with particular emphasis on hydrogel-based systems, which dominate the current literature alongside other emerging formats including nanofibrous scaffolds, foam dressings, and porous sponges. Key design strategies are then examined, including mechanical strength, wet adhesion, thermal responsiveness, antibacterial activity, intelligent stimulus-responsiveness, and multifunctional integration. Emerging strategies, such as targeted anti-Vibrio therapies and data-driven material design, are also discussed. Together, the insights synthesized here offer a framework for the rational design of advanced SWI wound dressings and practical guidance for their clinical translation in marine wound management.

Vital pulp therapy for caries-induced pulpitis is limited by the acidic, oxidative and inflammatory microenvironment. Here, we present zinc-iron nanozymes (ZFNs) designed for sequential infection control and inflammation resolution. ZFNs exhibit pH-dependent multi-enzymatic activities: optimal peroxidase-like activity at pH 5.0 (mimicking the Streptococcus mutans microenvironment) and dominant catalase- and superoxide dismutase-like activities at neutral pH. Under acidic conditions, ZFNs convert H₂O₂ into hydroxyl radicals, achieving >99% bactericidal efficacy against S. mutans and suppressing bacterial acid production. At neutral pH, ZFNs scavenge reactive oxygen species, reduce intracellular reactive oxygen species levels in inflamed dental pulp stem cells, and downregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-8). They also partially restore osteogenic/odontogenic differentiation markers (ALP, RUNX2, and DSPP). In a rat pulpitis model, direct pulp capping with ZFNs substantially decreased pulpal necrosis and inflammatory infiltration on day 5 and promoted tissue repair, showing early anti-inflammatory effects comparable to or better than the commonly used clinical material iRoot BP. These findings suggest that this nanozyme platform with pH-dependent multi-enzymatic activities can support sequential infection control and inflammation resolution, offering a potential strategy for vital pulp therapy.