Journal of Materials Chemistry B最新文献

Melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, still lacks clinically reliable treatments. CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing offers a promising approach for melanoma therapy; however, the efficient and safe delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 components to melanoma cells remains a formidable challenge. Here, we report the development of highly branched poly(β-amino ester) (HPAE) for the efficient delivery of Cas9 mRNA to melanoma cells and for transdermal application in vivo. HPAE is synthesized via a one-pot “A2 + B4 + C2” type Michael addition strategy and is capable of efficiently condensing mRNA to form nanosized polyplexes with a moderate positive charge. In human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293T), mouse melanoma cells (B16F10), and human melanoma cells (A2058 and A375), up to 76.3%, 74.6%, 16.5%, and 57.1% mRNA transfection efficiency was achieved without obvious cytotoxicity. Moreover, repeated dosing further enhanced mRNA transfection efficiency, resulting in sustained gene expression. Importantly, HPAE enables the effective co-delivery of Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA to melanoma cells, facilitating up to 25.5% gene knockout. HPAE also demonstrates strong transdermal capability, resulting in high in vivo mRNA expression following direct topical administration. This study demonstrates the feasibility of treating melanoma through the transdermal application of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, enabled by the efficient mRNA delivery provided by HPAE.

Oxygen delivery remains a critical challenge in biomedical applications, particularly where controlled and localized oxygen supplementation is required. In this study, Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8) was investigated as a biocompatible model metal–organic framework to understand molecular oxygen adsorption and release through an integrated experimental and computational approach. Experimental adsorption measurements showed an oxygen uptake of approximately 0.9 mmol g⁻¹, while oxygen-release studies in deoxygenated PBS indicated concentration-dependent but partial reoxygenation under aqueous conditions. Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) and molecular dynamics simulations further identified preferential adsorption regions and highlighted differences between pore-confined and surface-accessible oxygen behavior. Breakthrough experiments and adsorption kinetic models (Thomas, Yoon-Nelson, and Adam-Bohart) supported the observed oxygen adsorption trend. Preliminary in vitro studies in A549 cells suggested acceptable short-term biological compatibility under the tested conditions. Overall, the results position ZIF-8 not as high-capacity systemic oxygen carrier, but as a mechanistically informative and biocompatible proof-of-concept platform for understanding oxygen adsorption, confinement, and localized release in MOF-based biomedical systems.

Molecular investigation of specific gene expression patterns at the single-cell level reveals the heterogeneity of bulk cell populations, facilitating the understanding of interactive regulatory pathways that are hidden. However, this understanding has been constrained for decades by the length scale differences between traditional macroscopic tools and the size of a single cell. Additionally, these tools are inadequate in efficiently manipulating millions of individual cells within a reasonably short time period. Therefore, issues associated with the above limitations represent a challenge for single-cell encapsulation and subsequent analysis. This review highlights recent developments in droplet-microfluidic techniques that have enabled the high throughput fabrication of cell-laden picoliter droplets, which can be subsequently photopolymerized into microgels for further analytical assessment or bottom-up tissue engineering practices. Novel microfluidic droplet techniques developed for single-cell screening, analysis, and scaffold assembly for tissue engineering are introduced. Meanwhile, the constraints and challenges encountered in microfluidic droplet miniaturization processing are discussed in the context of enabling single-cell manipulation. In the end, an emerging alternative material, which holds great promise for single-cell encapsulation in miniaturized hydrogels, is introduced as a cell carrier with biocompatible polymerization kinetics and cytocompatibility.

Correction for ‘Injectable hydrogel-based localized delivery of IDO-galectin-3 mitigates neuroinflammation and promotes neuronal sparing after spinal cord contusion in rats’ by Gopal Agarwal et al., J. Mater. Chem. B, 2026, 14, 3464–3479, https://doi.org/10.1039/D5TB02228B.

Correction for ‘Atomically dispersed copper(I) on tungstosilicic acid for catalytic protection against cisplatin-induced hearing loss’ by Xiaochan Lu et al., J. Mater. Chem. B, 2025, 13, 3540–3552, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TB02820A.

In vitro detection plays a vital role in clinical diagnostics, with heterogeneous assay formats remaining the standard. These assays rely on multiple separation steps to remove unbound labeled reagents before signal measurement. In contrast, homogeneous (no-wash) detection, based on the direct mixing of signal-generating probes with the sample, eliminates washing steps, offering faster analysis and reduced operator variability. These features make it particularly advantageous for point-of-care testing (POCT). Although numerous no-wash platforms have been developed, none has yet achieved gold-standard status for routine clinical use. Thus, broad clinical adoption of homogeneous detection technologies remains an important but unrealized objective. This review focuses on recent material-driven advances in wash-free detection, shifting attention away from synthesis and preparation methods. By synthesizing key developments, addressing current limitations, and outlining future opportunities, we aimed to advance the clinical translation of homogeneous detection systems.

After injury, the repair of brain tissue is hindered by poor neuronal regeneration and severe neuroinflammation. Although magnetoelectric (ME) stimulation has emerged as a promising wireless strategy to promote axonal growth, its efficacy is strictly dependent on the ME coupling efficiency of the materials used. Furthermore, while microglia-mediated inflammation remains a critical barrier to neurogenesis, integrating neuroprotective strategies to modulate this inhibitory environment with ME stimulation strategies has seldom been explored. Herein, we developed a multi-functional biomimetic hydrogel platform combining neuroprotective and neuroinductive properties simultaneously. This platform is composed of a collagen/oxidized hyaluronic acid–metformin hydrogel matrix with encapsulated biocompatible core–shell ME nanoparticles (NPs), MnFe₂O₄@Ba_0.85Ca_0.15Ti_0.9Zr_0.1O₃ (MFO@BCZT), exhibiting a high ME coefficient. We confirmed that the metformin in the hydrogel effectively inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced M1 polarization of BV2 microglia, providing neuroprotection. Concurrently, under pulsed magnetic field stimulation, the embedded MFO@BCZT NPs generated local electrical signals, significantly promoting neuronal differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs). In a rat traumatic brain injury (TBI) model, this synergistic system alleviated neuroinflammation, recruited endogenous NSCs, and promoted their neuronal differentiation and maturation within the lesion. This led to enhanced axonal regeneration, remyelination, synaptic reconstruction, and ultimately, improved cognitive function recovery. Overall, this work presents a promising strategy that combines ME stimulation-driven neuroinduction with metformin-mediated neuroprotection for effective brain tissue repair, shedding light on innovative strategies for biomaterial design and the treatment of central nervous system injuries.

A nonplanar derivative of pyrazino[2,3-g]quinoxaline with eight flexible alkyl chains in the periphery, featuring donor–acceptor–donor non-planar architecture, was prepared, which exhibits a soft crystalline nature, a high molar extinction coefficient, and strong emission intensity in solution while showing a redshift and reduced emission intensity in the aggregated state. It exhibits positive solvatochromism and aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ). This compound is also sensitive to acid vapors, showing fluorescence quenching, which is reversible upon exposure to base vapors. The compound can also be used for the selective bioimaging of cancer cells. Further, the compound also showed its utility as an emissive layer for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with a CBP host.

Infected diabetic wounds represent a significant clinical challenge, largely due to persistent bacterial biofilm infection that impedes the healing process. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), an emerging antibiofilm strategy, uses photosensitizers to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon illumination, which oxidatively destroy bacteria and thus combat biofilm-associated infections. Nevertheless, the efficacy of PDT is substantially undermined by restricted ROS diffusion through compact biofilm structures and rapid ROS neutralization by overexpressed reduced glutathione (GSH) within the biofilm microenvironment. Current GSH-depletion strategies predominantly focus on eliminating pre-existing GSH, leaving the critical issue of its continuous synthesis unaddressed. To overcome this limitation, we developed a GSH-scavenging and synthesis-blocking microneedle patch (MN/CuTCPP@BSO) for the enhanced photodynamic eradication of diabetic wound biofilms. The patch incorporates the GSH synthesis inhibitor L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) onto copper-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (CuTCPP) nanosheets. We demonstrate that CuTCPP effectively eliminates the overexpressed GSH in the biofilm, while BSO concurrently blocks its production. This dual-pathway suppression of the bacterial antioxidant system synergistically minimizes ROS clearance. Furthermore, the microneedle platform ensures deep penetration of therapeutic agents into the biofilm. In vitro and in vivo evaluations collectively verify that MN/CuTCPP@BSO potently enhances ROS generation, effectively eradicates the biofilm, and promotes wound healing through Cu²⁺-mediated angiogenesis, offering a robust and safe strategy for treating biofilm infections in diabetic wounds.

A donor–acceptor-type squaraine dye is synthesized, and its phototherapeutic features are comprehensively evaluated for in vitro applications. It is noteworthy that squaraine shows both photodynamic and photothermal activity under illumination. More importantly, squaraine induces type I sensitization for photodynamic therapy and produces superoxide with a quantum yield of 0.356. The photothermal activity of squaraine is examined under a 635 nm laser, which increased the temperature gradually from 24.0 °C to 60.0 °C. The photothermal conversion efficiency is calculated to be 21.2%. Subsequently, in vitro studies are carried out with two different types of cancer cells (SK-MEL-30/An1 and MCF-7). The cell death is increased up to 90% in SK-MEL-30/An1 (ATCC® HTB-73™) and MCF-7 (ATCC® HTB-22™) cells. Furthermore, various amounts of squaraine are incorporated into polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogels that exhibit phototherapeutic effects. In addition, methotrexate (MTX) was loaded into these hydrogels. It is found that PAAm hydrogels are good candidates for multimodal therapy, including PDT, PTT, and chemotherapy against SK-MEL-30/An1 cells. The results indicate that 89% of SK-MEL-30/An1 cells are eliminated after a session of multitherapy.