Xiujuan Li , Zehao Chen , Songgen Chen , Han Wang , Lin Fu , Ban Feng , Hui Chen , Lize Xiong
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Pain represents a significant public health challenge with substantial clinical and economic burdens. While pharmacotherapy remains a mainstay of pain management, its utility is limited by adverse side effects and the potential for dependency. Acupuncture has shown great potential in pain management through its ability to induce analgesic effects via acupoint stimulation. However, its poor specificity and ill-defined stimulation parameters compromise therapeutic specificity and reproducibility. Herein, we developed a biomaterial-based acupoint activation strategy for pain management. Adhesive polydopamine-coated hydrogel microspheres were fabricated using microfluidic techniques for accurate attachment and activation of acupoints. Adhesive hydrogel microspheres loaded with adenosine can slowly release exogenous adenosine at the ST36 acupoint to simulate the analgesic effect of acupuncture. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that single-dose administration of adhesive microspheres can effectively target acupoints, elevate mechanical pain thresholds, and provide systemic anti-inflammatory effects for up to 7 days. Overall, the proposed adhesive hydrogel microsphere system offers a new perspective on acupuncture practice and pain management.
期刊介绍:
Materials and Design is a multi-disciplinary journal that publishes original research reports, review articles, and express communications. The journal focuses on studying the structure and properties of inorganic and organic materials, advancements in synthesis, processing, characterization, and testing, the design of materials and engineering systems, and their applications in technology. It aims to bring together various aspects of materials science, engineering, physics, and chemistry.
The journal explores themes ranging from materials to design and aims to reveal the connections between natural and artificial materials, as well as experiment and modeling. Manuscripts submitted to Materials and Design should contain elements of discovery and surprise, as they often contribute new insights into the architecture and function of matter.