BiopolymersHasan Hüseyin Gülercan, Seda Genç Şimşek, Kadriye Kızılbey, Cenk Denktaş, Nelisa Türkoğlu
Tissue patches are biomaterial-based structures designed to support the repair of damaged or functionally impaired tissues and are required to exhibit biocompatibility, mechanical integrity, and suitable surface characteristics. In this study, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), chitosan (Chi), and hyaluronic acid (HA)-based composite films reinforced with zeolite (0-0.5% w/v) were developed and evaluated as potential tissue patch materials. The incorporation of zeolite significantly influenced the physicochemical and mechanical properties of the films. The elastic modulus decreased from 293.78 ± 64.47 N/mm2 for the zeolite-free film to 106.21 ± 9.50 N/mm2 at the highest zeolite content, indicating tunable flexibility. Water contact angle values increased from 46.09° to 67.23°, while maintaining overall hydrophilicity. The films exhibited rapid swelling behavior, reaching equilibrium within 30 min, and demonstrated controlled biodegradation with mass losses exceeding 75% after 42 days. Biological evaluations showed that all formulations maintained cell viability above 70%, with values ranging from 87.26% to 78.63%, and supported cell adhesion, confirming their biocompatible nature. The novelty of this study lies in demonstrating that low-concentration zeolite incorporation enables controlled tuning of mechanical, surface, and biological properties within a single PVA-Chi-HA system, without compromising biocompatibility. These findings highlight the potential of zeolite-reinforced composite films as multifunctional and customizable tissue patch candidates for tissue engineering applications.
BMC oral healthJaylane K Ghonima, Mohy El-Din El-Rashidy, Gehan Kotry, Samir R Nouh, Dina Nagui, Eman Thabet, Salma E El-Habashy
BACKGROUND: Furcation defects are considered among the most challenging periodontal lesions to regenerate given the complexity of the periodontal apparatus, inaccessibility and the limited blood supply to the area. The aim of the current study was to create and characterize a novel ternary hydrogel composed of hyaluronic acid (HA), chitosan (CS) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and to evaluate its potentials in periodontal regeneration of furcation defects in dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A composite hydrogel scaffold composed of hyaluronic acid, chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol was successfully prepared and characterized in terms of SEM, swelling and mechanical behaviors, FTIR analysis as well as biocompatibility assay and direct cell-scaffold interactions. In an in vivo study, thirty-two critical size class II furcation defects were created in eight mongrel dogs and randomly allocated to group I, hydrogel group and group II, negative control group. Histological analysis and histomorphometric evaluation of percentage of newly formed bone area were used to evaluate the regenerative potential of the novel hydrogel after one and three months, postoperatively. RESULTS: The prepared hydrogel was cytocompatible, had proper degradation rate, water uptake and mechanical strength as well as ease of handling clinically. Histologic results of the hydrogel group revealed superior bone, periodontal ligament and cementum formation compared to the negative control group at both time points. The hydrogel group showed a statistically significant increase in the percentage of newly formed bone surface area compared to the negative control group. CONCLUSIONS: The novel ternary hydrogel prepared using hyaluronic acid, chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol showed adequate cytocompatibility and mechanical properties. The in vivo results support that the novel scaffold might be effective for periodontal regeneration in furcation defects in dogs.
ACS applied bio materialsJunzhou Tian, Bin He, Yuwei Li, Ji Zhang, Lin Zhong, Haodong Peng, Tao Jing, Zhongtao Li, Feng Lin, Jie Weng, Xiong Xiong, Shuxin Qu
Digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing of calcium phosphate (CaP) scaffolds tailored to fit personalized bone defects represents a promising strategy for bone tissue engineering. However, conventional CaP-GelMA inks suffer from particle-induced ink heterogeneity and reduced photopolymerization efficiency, resulting in poor printability. Additionally, since CaP crystallizes before polymer crosslinking, it only mixes with the GelMA matrix, leading to weak interfacial interactions between them and poor mechanical properties of the scaffold. To overcome these challenges, traditional calcium phosphate (CaP) particles were replaced with highly water-soluble calcium phosphate oligomers (CPO), which provide superior dispersion and minimal light scattering leading to high printability. More importantly, the organic-inorganic hybrid structure within the scaffold was achieved through concurrent GelMA crosslinking and CPO crystallization. The optimal CPO, with a Ca/P ratio of 1.67, demonstrated favorable DLP printability owing to its low and narrowly distributed particle size, high solid content, and low absorbance of light. Among various formulations, the ink containing 20% CPO (GC-20) exhibited superior printability and structural integrity. Characterization confirmed that CPO converts to hydroxyapatite (HAp) and forms hybrid HAp-GelMA structures during DLP printing, resulting in significantly improved compressive modulus and toughness. In vitro assays indicated that the scaffolds are noncytotoxic, promote cell adhesion and proliferation, and substantially enhance osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of mesenchymal stem cells. These findings highlight the potential of CPO-based DLP inks for applications in personalized bone and cartilage regeneration.
ACS applied bio materialsXingxing Yang, Maitraee Mistry, Barbara Pui Chan
Non-viral vectors have garnered considerable attention due to their biosafety and low immunotoxicity. However, non-viral gene transfection has been limited in applicability due to low effectiveness of transfection. Among them, a naturally occurring material, chitosan (Chi), was widely studied, but the gene transfection efficiency was very low under physiological pH. Collagen (Col), the most abundant extracellular matrix (ECM), has demonstrated high cellular uptake efficiency, while Chi was recognized for its ability to promote endosomal escape. Here, we hypothesize that conjugating Col with Chi can enhance cellular uptake and hence the transfection efficiency. Specifically, we conjugated Col to Chi through amination, resulting in aminated Col-Chi (aCol-Chi), and compared the cellular uptake and gene transfection efficiency. The conjugation significantly increased the cellular uptake of aCol-Chi, which was 2.8 times higher than that of Chi, while the gene transfection efficiency of aCol-Chi was found 2.5 times higher than that of Chi. Moreover, aCol-Chi showed a higher 3D gene transfection efficiency than that of the aCol and Chi. Additionally, aCol-Chi exhibited potential for BMP2 secretion and its application in promoting osteogenic differentiation. This research highlights the development of an ECM-enhanced gene transfection reagent, aCol-Chi, with improved cellular uptake and gene transfection efficiency, holding potential for applications in gene therapy.
ACS applied bio materialsLetian Zhang, Yang Lin, Wenhao Jia, Ruchen Xuan, Jingwen Wu, Dan Wang, Rui Xu
Dental caries, periodontitis, oral mucosal inflammation, peri-implant infections, and oral tissue defects remain major clinical burdens. Conventional treatments, including antimicrobials, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory agents, and regenerative materials, are frequently limited by rapid clearance from saliva-exposed oral surfaces, insufficient discrimination between pathogenic and commensal microorganisms or between diseased and healthy tissues, antimicrobial resistance in biofilm-associated infections, and inadequate support for functional tissue repair. In this context, bioactive peptides have emerged as promising therapeutic agents for oral applications because of their structural tunability, biocompatibility, and broad antimicrobial, antibiofilm, immunomodulatory, and regenerative activities. However, their clinical translation is restricted by enzymatic instability, short residence time, limited penetration in complex oral microenvironments, and inefficient delivery. This review summarizes recent progress in bioactive peptides for oral diseases, with particular emphasis on biomaterial-assisted therapeutic strategies. We discuss how peptide design, functional modification, and biomaterial platforms, including nanoparticles, hydrogels, coatings, and mucoadhesive systems, improve peptide stability, local retention, controlled release, and site-specific activity. We further highlight applications in infection control, inflammation regulation, soft and hard tissue regeneration, biosensing, and targeted therapy. Finally, we outline translational challenges, including safety evaluation, scalable manufacturing, and reproducibility, and discuss emerging solutions enabled by rational peptide engineering, artificial intelligence-guided design, and synthetic biology. Overall, integrating bioactive peptides with applied biomaterial systems provides a promising framework for next-generation oral therapeutics.
ACS applied bio materialsChithra Anilkumar, Anjaneyulu Udduttula
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a rapidly growing joint disease worldwide, and its chronic and progressive form can cause damage to the cartilage and subchondral bone, resulting in physical and economic suffering for affected individuals. So far, potential therapeutic approaches, such as systematic drug administration and intraarticular injections, have been used to treat OA and regenerate osteochondral defects, but they are palliative rather than curative. Thus, hydrogels with biologics (matrix-degrading enzyme inhibitors) and small molecules (growth factors, anti-inflammatory molecules) show promising results in preclinical studies but have failed in clinical practice due to inadequate patient benefits. Recently, bioinks have gained significant attention as regenerative biomaterials in tissue engineering due to their ability to contain cells and bioactive small molecules, such as proteins, peptides, and growth factors. Bioinks are developed using various polymers with crosslinkers. The crosslinkers play a crucial role in the formation of bioinks, which can be natural or synthetic (ionic, chemical, photo, etc.). However, extensive usage of crosslinkers limits the clinical application of bioinks due to compromising the ideal properties of bioinks, such as cytocompatibility, biodegradability, and biomechanical properties. Therefore, the potential solution to this problem is utilizing the click chemistry approach. The click chemistry strategy can achieve efficient bio-inks without compromising their intrinsic and optimal characteristics, as click reactions are rapid, spontaneous, and bioorthogonal, favoring the gelation time, rate of degradation, and cell viability. A few reports have delivered thorough information on click chemistry-induced hydrogels and bioinks for bone regeneration, but they are not specific to osteochondral regeneration. This review addresses this gap by exploring the fundamental concepts, challenges, and prospects of click chemistry, specifically its distinct click reactions, in developing bioinks and 3D bioprinting scaffolds for OA treatment and osteochondral regeneration. Furthermore, it addresses regulatory and clinical hurdles tied to bioink translation, providing an integrative overview of translational bioinks and tissue engineering strategies for cartilage and osteochondral regeneration.
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most potent biological toxins discovered to date. Rapid capture and clearance of BoNTs from the bloodstream is a critical strategy for poisoning treatment. Nanobodies, with their high affinity, represent promising molecules for neutralizing BoNTs. Due to its small molecular weight, it has the limitation of a short half-life in the bloodstream. The BoNT/A-neutralizing nanobody, ciA-C2, binds to the receptor-binding domain of BoNT/A, blocking its interaction with the neuronal receptor SV2 and thereby preventing toxin entry into cells to achieve detoxification. This study leverages the nanoscale addressability of DNA origami technology. Through complementary base pairing, the BoNT/A-neutralizing nanobody ciA-C2 is displayed on a DNA origami nanostructure (DON), constructing a DON-ciA-C2 anti-BoNT/A system with prolonged half-life and spatially cooperative multivalency. The DON, measuring approximately 120 nm in size-about 30 times larger than ciA-C2-extends the half-life of the system due to its larger dimensions. The multivalent assembly of ciA-C2 on the DNA origami creates a "high-affinity" nanoscale surface. This design leverages dense regional proximity effects to significantly enhance toxin-binding efficiency and stability. Additionally, a physical barrier effect is formed, effectively shielding the receptor-binding domain of BoNT/A and preventing the toxin from accessing receptors on the cell membrane. In a mouse model of BoNT/A poisoning at 10 times the lethal dose (10 LD50), DON-ciA-C2 significantly improved survival rates to 100% in both prophylactic and therapeutic administration regimens. Moreover, it extended the effective half-life of ciA-C2 from 4 h to approximately 32 h. By orderly assembling nanobodies on DNA origami, this study creates a biomimetic nanoscale trap with triple functions-"capture, enrichment, and sequestration"-against BoNT/A. This strategy not only provides a highly efficient neutralization paradigm for anti-BoNT/A therapy but also highlights the transformative potential of DNA origami nanostructures in reshaping protein interaction interfaces for precision medicine.
ACS applied bio materialsDipankar Das, Sampa Das, Sauradeep Das, Debadrita Dasgupta, Biswajit Saha
Recent advancements in organic material-based sensor technology have created a promising field for designing sensors that are both environmentally friendly and cost-effective. An approach has thus been undertaken to produce advanced electronic materials by incorporating polyaniline (PANI), graphite (Gr), and banana powder (BP) onto a cotton fabric (CF) substrate. Readily available white CF from the local market were used for this work. Using a straightforward physical vapor deposition technique, a uniform layer of graphite and BP-infused PANI was deposited onto the CF framework to create the desired electronic material system, PANI/Gr/BP@CF composites. Comprehensive analyses were carried out on the resulting active material by using various characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and electrical charge transport analysis. The characteristic structural, optical, and electrical properties, as obtained from these studies, have been found suitable for an electronic material for advanced applications and so studied further to observe humidity sensing properties. The performance of the prepared materials in humidity detection was evaluated by measuring the resistive response under varying humidity levels through current-voltage (I-V) characteristics. This study reveals that PANI/Gr/BP@CF composites show a very high sensitivity to the variation in humidity and evolved as a low-cost, flexible, wearable, and environmentally friendly humidity sensing electronic material.
The abnormal microenvironment of chronic diabetic wounds leads to the disorder of the tissue repair process. Herein, based on the principles of click chemistry, a multifunctional rapid gelation hydrogel dressing (MSFP hydrogel) was designed for the treatment of diabetic wounds. The hydrogel was formed via thiol-ene click reaction between thiolated Pluronic F127 (F127SH) and maleimide-modified gelatin (GelatinMAL). This thiol-ene click reaction required no metal catalyst, exhibited good biocompatibility, and proceeded under mild conditions. The system incorporated antimicrobial component F127-acetylbromide (F127AcBr) and puerarin (PUE) and responded to overexpressed matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) at wound sites, enabling controlled drug release. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the MSFP hydrogel effectively eliminated ROS; modulated macrophage polarization; promoted human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation; and exhibited robust antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In vivo diabetic mouse wound models confirmed that the MSFP hydrogel synergistically improved the wound microenvironment by establishing barrier protection, inhibiting bacterial growth, reducing inflammation, promoting M2 macrophage polarization, and enhancing vascularization. Collectively, this multifunctional hydrogel can promote diabetic wound healing through immunoregulation, angiogenesis, and antibacterial activity, presenting a promising therapeutic strategy for clinical application.
ACS applied bio materialsYing Tian, Qianqian Che, Xin Zhang, Yishan Fang, Bo Cui
Diabetic wound healing remains a major clinical challenge driven by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and persistent inflammation. Herein, we report a multifunctional responsive hydrogel (Glu@nano) engineered from a thiol-modified hyaluronic acid (C-HA) matrix. Phenylboronic acid-functionalized carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin was synthesized via amide coupling and subsequently integrated into C-HA through reversible boronate ester bonds formed between PBA and cis-diol motifs on the HA backbone, while partial oxidation of pendant thiols generated interchain disulfide crosslinks. These dual-dynamic interactions create a three-dimensional network responsive to both glucose and reducing microenvironments. Cu-Zn dual-atom nanozymes were further anchored within the scaffold via coordination with backbone carboxyl/amino groups, endowing the system with robust SOD-, CAT-, and POD-like catalytic activity for efficient ROS elimination. Upon topical application to diabetic wounds, Glu@nano demonstrated rapid wound contraction, suppressed pro-inflammatory IL-6, promoted angiogenesis and collagen deposition, and established a regenerative microenvironment conducive to healing. This work presents an innovative material-based strategy for concurrent targeting of multiple pathological hallmarks in diabetic wounds and holds substantial potential for clinical translation.
ACS applied bio materialsCai Ling Yong, Alexander Shao-Rong Pang, Dinesh Kumar Srinivasan
Plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) aims to restore form and function, thereby improving patients' quality of life. In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising field, offering innovative solutions in tissue engineering, wound healing, implant design, and aesthetic applications. This scoping review evaluates recent advancements, clinical applications, and limitations of nanotechnology-based approaches in plastic surgery. A structured literature search was conducted in PubMed using combinations of keywords including "nanotechnology", "nanoparticles", "plastic surgery", "reconstructive surgery", "wound healing", "tissue engineering", and "aesthetic medicine", combined using Boolean operators (AND/OR). Example search string: ("nanotechnology" OR "nanoparticles" OR "nanomedicine") AND ("plastic surgery" OR "reconstructive surgery" OR "wound healing" OR "tissue engineering" OR "aesthetic medicine"). Inclusion criteria included English-language articles published within the past five years focusing on nanotechnology applications in PRS. Reviews, preclinical studies, and clinical studies were included. Editorials, conference abstracts, and studies not directly relevant were excluded. Key data were extracted, including nanomaterial types, methods of application, and reported therapeutic outcomes, and findings were synthesized through thematic analysis. This review identified diverse nanotechnology applications, including nanoskin development, nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery, nanoscaffolds for tissue regeneration, and improved biomaterials for reconstructive procedures such as breast reconstruction. Notable innovations included enhanced wound healing outcomes using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9)-based approaches, burn treatment using tilapia skin xenografts, and chitosan-based nanoparticles demonstrating antimicrobial activity and drug delivery potential. Despite promising preclinical and early clinical results, widespread clinical translation remains limited. Key barriers include insufficient long-term safety and toxicity data, challenges in large-scale production, and regulatory constraints. Nanotechnology in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Created in BioRender. Yong, C.L. (2026) https://BioRender.com/l1pmh1n.
ACS applied bio materialsInsha Kakroo, Nayeema Gull, Insha Mehraj, Showkat H Bhat, Saima Afzal, Nisar A Dangroo, Arsheed A Ganaie, Akeel Beigh, Sahar Saleem Bhat, Aabid H Shalla
Chronic infected wounds remain a significant clinical challenge due to persistent microbial colonization, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and impaired tissue regeneration. These pathological conditions disrupt key healing processes, such as re-epithelialization, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, necessitating advanced wound dressings capable of simultaneously addressing infection and oxidative stress. In this work, a multifunctional hydrogel patch was developed by chemically modifying chitosan with N-acetylsulfonyl chloride (CS-NASC) and forming a cross-linked network with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), followed by the incorporation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and resveratrol (RSV). FTIR spectroscopy confirmed successful chemical modification and intermolecular interactions within the hydrogel matrix. The hydrogel exhibited pH-responsive swelling behavior, achieving a high swelling ratio of approximately 1500% at pH 7.4, indicating excellent fluid absorption capacity under wound-relevant conditions. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a porous architecture with an average pore size of ∼151 μm, favorable for exudate absorption and nutrient transport. The developed hydrogel demonstrated strong antibacterial activity, with zones of inhibition of 18.0 ± 0.1 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and 20.0 ± 0.1 mm against Escherichia coli, attributed to the synergistic antimicrobial effects of NASC and AgNPs. Additionally, the presence of RSV imparted significant antioxidant activity, with 65-85% DPPH radical scavenging efficiency. Cytocompatibility evaluation using the MTT assay confirmed excellent cell viability (>95% viability), while rheological analysis indicated stable viscoelastic behavior with G' > G″, ensuring structural integrity suitable for wound application. In vivo evaluation using a coinfected wound model demonstrated that the hydrogel patch significantly enhanced wound healing, achieving 91.96% wound contraction within 14 days, along with a marked reduction in bacterial load and increased collagen deposition (0.6643 μg/mg hydroxyproline) compared to control groups. Histopathological analysis further confirmed improved tissue regeneration, including enhanced re-epithelialization and collagen organization. Overall, the CS-NASC/AgNPs/RSV/PVP hydrogel patch represents a promising multifunctional dressing for the effective management of infected wounds.
Drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (DRSA) infections present a formidable therapeutic challenge severely threatening human health. To address this, we engineered a metal-phenolic network (MPN) platform that co-immobilizes whole-cell DRSA with immunostimulatory metal ions (i.e., Fe3+, Mn2+, Zn2+) under mild conditions. Among these, the iron-coordinated MPN (SA@FeMPN) exhibited superior potency, leveraging a dynamic valence transition mechanism to robustly amplify the TLR2/NF-κB signaling. This mechanism promoted functional polarization of macrophages to the M1 state and drove dendritic cell maturation. In a murine systemic infection model, SA@FeMPN elicited robust cellular and humoral immunity, achieving a 2-18-fold greater reduction in bacterial burden across major organs compared to other MPNs, and established durable immunological memory to prevent infection relapse. Collectively, this work establishes iron-coordinated MPNs as a rational design platform for next-generation immunotherapy and identifies SA@FeMPN as a promising therapeutic vaccine candidate that not only eradicates established DRSA infections but also confers lasting protection against recurrence.
ACS applied bio materialsZiwei Meng, Gang Long, Qingqing Xie, Peng Yan, Abdukader Abdukayum
Traditional luminescent probes for long-term, zero-background, and high-resolution imaging of deep tumors are still constrained by three core bottlenecks: insufficient long persistent luminescence (LPL) duration, autofluorescence interference, and inadequate emission wavelength. We propose a "long persistent luminescence-perovskite heterogeneous coupling" strategy and construct ZnGa2O4:Mn2+/La2MgTiO6:Er3+ (ZGOM/LMTOE) nanocomposites via a hydrothermal-co-precipitation method. Herein, ZGOM serves as a recyclable "energy storage unit", while LMTOE acts as an "optical emission unit". Through interfacial resonance energy transfer across materials (254 nm→500 nm→1545 nm), LMTOE emits near-infrared-IIb (NIR-IIb, 1500-1700 nm) persistent luminescence without in situ excitation, with a persistent luminescence lifetime of up to 15 min. This system enables the construction of an in vivo "wireless luminescent unit" characterized by "one-time charging and continuous luminescence". We successfully achieved NIR-IIb afterglow imaging of subcutaneous tumors in mice. This work addresses the technical gap where a single material cannot simultaneously meet the requirements of "deep penetration, long persistence, and zero background", and provides a material paradigm for the precision diagnosis and treatment of deep lesions.
The rapid and sensitive detection of cancer biomarkers is paramount for early oncological diagnostics and therapeutic monitoring. However, traditional graphene functionalization methods often involve a hazardous, multistep process that compromises material integrity. Addressing this critical bottleneck, we present an efficient, one-pot Leuckart reaction strategy to synthesize amine-functionalized reduced graphene oxide as a transformative electrochemical immunosensing screen-printed electrode (SPEs) platform. By availing highly functionalized graphene oxide (GO) from expanded graphite via the modified Tour's method, we achieved an exceptional nitrogen content of 7.6%, enabling a densely populated reactive amine interface for bioconjugation. This nanomaterial exhibits superior electrochemical properties, dramatically reducing the charge-transfer resistance (Rct) to 3.58 ± 0.55 kΩ, validated through rigorous electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) testing modeled with a modified Randles circuit. To translate this material into a practical diagnostic tool, we employed a scalable airbrush-spray deposition technique onto a commercial gold screen-printed electrodes. This approach circumvents the inconsistencies of traditional drop-casting, laying the ground for robust covalent immobilization of anti-CEA antibodies via EDC-NHS chemistry. Thus, the resulting label-free immunosensor was meticulously evaluated using electrochemical techniques for detecting carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a vital biomarker for colorectal and lung carcinomas. Analytical performance revealed an outstanding sensitivity of 108.42 μA · decade-1 · cm-2 with an LOD of 0.00375 ng mL-1 and an LOQ of 0.00598 ng mL-1 operating within the broad linear dynamic range from 0.051 to 51.2 ng mL-1, covering both healthy and pathophysiological states. Moreover, its storage stability demonstrates the statistically significant current response for the period of ~20 days and retains 62.5% of its activity after 50 days. Additionally, the platform demonstrates a scalable and clinically translatable paradigm for next-generation point-of-care (POC) oncological diagnostics and paves the way for varied antigen-based assay upgrades by improving healthcare outcomes globally.
ACS applied bio materialsYu Dong, Luzhe Zhang, Lin Zhang, Rui Gao, Zirui Zhang, Yongsheng Du, Weiwei Qiao, Fei Tong
Cu@MSNs@ICG nanomachines possess a unique architecture featuring copper deposited on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with indocyanine green (ICG) modification, enabling excellent photothermal pulse output under NIR-II irradiation. Upon 1064 nm illumination, these nanomachines undergo directional self-thermophoretic motion. In the tumor cell microenvironment, the photothermal pulse output drives self-thermophoretic locomotion, simultaneously facilitating photothermal therapy and cuproptosis. This biocompatible, photothermally activated nanomachine system offers a promising platform for synergistic tumor cell therapy.
Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, BiologyM Yasmin Begum, Manickam Rajkumar, Prabha Govindaraj, Krishnan Meenambigai, Mona Alhamod, Hamoud Alotaibi
Phytofabrication of polymer-based nanocomposites has emerged as a promising approach for developing multifunctional biomaterials with enhanced therapeutic efficacy. In the present study, chitosan-coated magnesium oxide nanocomposites (CS-MgONCs) were successfully synthesized via a green biogenic route using Abutilon indicum leaf extract, integrating the advantages of biopolymers and metal oxides. The formation of CS-MgONCs was preliminarily confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy with a characteristic absorption peak at 280 nm. FTIR analysis revealed the involvement of key functional groups responsible for reduction and stabilization, while XRD patterns confirmed the crystalline nature of the nanocomposites. HR-TEM demonstrated a predominantly semi-spherical morphology with an average particle size of 58.93 nm. DLS and zeta potential analyses indicated good colloidal stability, with a surface charge of +8.76 mV, attributed to the chitosan coating. Functionally, CS-MgONCs exhibited significant dose-dependent antioxidant activity, achieving a maximum DPPH radical scavenging efficiency of 78.37 ± 1.34% at 200 μg/mL. The nanocomposites also demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, with notable zones of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (20.71 ± 0.74 mm) and Escherichia coli (19.71 ± 0.74 mm). Furthermore, marked anti-inflammatory activity was observed through inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX), with 77.58 ± 1.37% suppression of COX-2 activity, suggesting effective modulation of inflammatory pathways. Biocompatibility assessment in zebrafish embryo models indicated acceptable safety profiles, with a 70% survival rate at 200 μg/mL. Importantly, the nanocomposites exhibited pronounced anticancer activity against HT-29 colon cancer cells, reducing cell viability to 21.48 ± 0.98% in a concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, the findings highlight that biogenically synthesized CS-MgONCs integrate structural stability with multifunctional biological performance, positioning them as promising candidates for future biomedical and therapeutic applications.
Biochemical and biophysical research communicationsDanial Ridzuan, Nor Ezzaty Ahmad, Siti Noor Fazliah Mohd Noor
Lithium-alumina-borate (LAB) glass-ceramic demonstrates potential materials with physicochemical and cytocompatibility characteristics which needs further investigation in terms of bone regeneration. Borate substitution in the LAB follows the formula in mole percentages (mol.%) of 70 B2O3-(30-x) Li2O-x Al2O3. The melt-derived LAB was dried at 60 °C and subjected to thermal analysis, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, pH profile analysis and in vitro bioactivity using simulated body fluid (SBF) with biocompatibility assessment towards SaOS-2 human cell line. Thermal analysis confirmed the stability and glass-forming ability of LAB glass-ceramic. The XRD showed peaks corresponding to HA for LA4B and LA6B at 2θ degree, ranging from 20° to 60°, while FTIR showed phosphate peaks of hydroxyapatite overlapping with the borate or alumina peaks for LA4B and LA6B at ∼550 cm-1 and ∼1100 cm-1. SEM-EDX results showed that LA4B samples formed better HA than LA6B and LA8B because the former has more phosphorus and calcium deposition in weight percentages on the glass-ceramic surface than the latter. The pH profiles of all the LAB glass-ceramic showed increasing trends until day 7, thereby suggesting potential HA formation. The in vitro ionic release in SBF advocates the role of each element in LAB because of its bioactive and biocompatible characteristics. MTT assays elucidate the potential of LA4B samples to be biocompatible towards the human osteoblast SaOS-2 and a cytocompatibility candidate that merits further biological evaluation, including osteogenic differentiation and in vivo studies, before its suitability for bone regeneration can be established.
European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics : official journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik e.VKuan-Wen Huang, Cheng-Rung Huang, Kuo-Chung Lan, Chien-Hsiang Chang, Yu-Fon Chen
Developing localized, smart antibacterial systems is crucial to overcome the limitations of traditional antibiotics. Here, we report the synthesis of a DNase-responsive nano-platform, ZnO@Car@DNA-BAC, using kiwifruit-derived genomic DNA as a sustainable scaffold. The system is engineered by cross-linking DNA with N,N'-Bis(acryloyl)cystamine (BAC) and incorporating L-carnosine (Car) functionalized ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), enabling targeted therapeutic release triggered by bacterial nucleases. Our findings reveal that while nanoparticle surface charge dictates the immediate therapeutic outcome in terms of bacterial membrane affinity, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis confirmed ROS-mediated oxidative stress as a secondary killing mechanism. Crucially, the nanocomposite exhibited excellent biocompatibility in 3D spheroid models derived from Raw264.7 and HaCaT cells. The dual-layered encapsulation effectively mitigated the intrinsic toxicity of ZnO NPs, resulting in significantly higher IC50 values and preserved metabolic activity within the 3D micro-tissues compared to bare nanoparticles. Following the tissue-level safety validation, the comprehensive nano-platforms were tested in a C. elegans infection model. The results showed a significant suppression of S. aureus colonization and prolonged host survival, regardless of the initial core charge. This study provides a strategic framework for designing stimuli-responsive, charge-tunable biomaterials for precision infection control, balancing robust antibacterial performance with high tissue-level safety.
Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materialsJiahui Wu, Jie Gao, Peng You, Xuan Li, Yanhua Wang, Xiangyu Shi, Zhiwei Li, Junxun Li, Fumei Qiao, Songlin Wang
Damaged skin barriers create a vulnerable interface for pathogen colonization, and subsequent pathogen invasion significantly delays tissue repair. Hydrogel dressings have been widely applied in clinical wound management as an effective treatment modality. However, prolonged reliance on antibiotics can induce allergic reactions and exacerbate the risk of drug resistance. Therefore, the development of natural hydrogel dressings that are biocompatible, mechanically robust, and antibiotic-free remains a critical technological challenge. In this study, OHA/PVA/HCMC@NaHCO3 composite hydrogels were prepared using oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA), hydrazine-containing carboxymethylcellulose (HCMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) as the primary components. The high aldehyde content of OHA chemically crosslinked with hydrazine-containing HCMC formed acylhydrazine bonds, while physical crosslinking with PVA and NaHCO3 formed hydrogen bonds. The incorporation of PVA enhanced the mechanical strength of the hydrogel without compromising its high liquid absorption capacity. NaHCO3 imparts notable antibacterial and antioxidant properties to the composite hydrogel. These effects act synergistically with HA, promoting wound healing while preserving HA's intrinsic skin repair functionality. It exhibited potent antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli. In vitro analyses confirmed good biocompatibility and the ability to promote fibroblast proliferation and migration. In a rat full-thickness skin wound model, the OHA/PVA/HCMC@NaHCO3 hydrogel significantly accelerated wound closure, promoted epidermal regeneration, reduced inflammation, and enhanced collagen deposition and tissue remodeling. The drug-free, readily prepared OHA/PVA/HCMC@NaHCO3 composite hydrogels demonstrate promising potential for clinical application in the treatment of infected wounds.