{"title":"Stromal Cell-Derived Factor-1α (SDF-1α)-Gene Activated Scaffold and Angiogenesis Process in Tissue Engineering: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of in Vitro Studies","authors":"Tungki Pratama Umar, Dessy Agustini, Sandy Hasan, Rohan Sabloak","doi":"10.1002/mba2.70059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mba2.70059","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) is a potent stem cell recruitment chemokine that can promote angiogenesis, particularly when delivered via gene-activated scaffolds (GAS). This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized in vitro evidence on the angiogenic potential of SDF-1α GAS. Four databases were utilized to search for eligible studies, comprising investigations that examined the in vitro effects of SDF-1α GAS on angiogenesis-related outcomes compared with gene-free scaffolds. Data on gene expression, protein levels, and endothelial formation were extracted. Meta-analyses were conducted using random or fixed-effect models, expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Risk of bias was assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for In Vitro Studies (QUIN) tool. Eight studies were included. Pooled analysis demonstrated SDF-1α GAS efficacy to significantly increase SDF-1α gene expression (SMD = 1.20; 95% CI = 0.13–2.27; <i>p</i> = .03), fold-change of the gene (MD = 12.48; 95% CI = 10.33–14.64; <i>p</i> < .0001), and protein production (MD = 0.29 ng/mL; 95% CI = 0.14–0.43 ng/mL; <i>p</i> = .0001). Most studies showed a moderate risk of bias. Based on in vitro studies, SDF-1α GAS activity is associated with significant elevation of SDF-1α gene expression and protein quantity, although it did not exhibit significant enhancement of VEGF expression or functional endothelial morphogenesis under the studied conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":100901,"journal":{"name":"MedComm – Biomaterials and Applications","volume":"5 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/mba2.70059","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148466896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Nanomaterial-Mediated Radiotherapy–Immunotherapy Combinations: Breaking Immunosuppression and Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment","authors":"Peijie Li, Xiangqin Wang, Sisi He, Hu Ma","doi":"10.1002/mba2.70058","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mba2.70058","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Malignant tumors remain a leading cause of global mortality. Radiotherapy (RT) and immunotherapy are established cornerstone therapies for most solid cancers. Their combination, radio-immunotherapy (IRT), has demonstrated robust synergistic antitumor activity in preclinical models and early-phase clinical trials. However, broader clinical implementation is hindered by intrinsic or acquired radioresistance, systemic toxicities with overlapping organ tropism, and a profoundly immunosuppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). To address these limitations, this review presents a mechanistically integrated framework centered on nanomaterial-enabled strategies: targeted radiosensitization coupled with enhanced immunogenic cell death (ICD); spatiotemporally controlled remodeling of the TIME to counteract immunosuppression; and multifunctional, imaging-guided theranostic platforms for precision IRT delivery and response monitoring. We systematically synthesize recent preclinical advances in nanomaterial-enhanced IRT—including applications across conventional X-ray, proton beam, photothermal, and sonodynamic irradiation—and critically evaluate early-phase clinical data for representative nanotherapeutics (NBTXR3 and AGuIX). Furthermore, we identify and analyze key translational bottlenecks impeding clinical adoption, including scalability, regulatory pathway clarity, and biomarker-driven patient selection. Collectively, this review provides a unified, mechanism-informed foundation to advance rational nanomaterial design and evidence-based clinical translation, thereby strengthening the scientific basis for precision oncology in patients with refractory solid tumors.</p>","PeriodicalId":100901,"journal":{"name":"MedComm – Biomaterials and Applications","volume":"5 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/mba2.70058","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148386196","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Harnessing Fiber Orientation in Agarose-Encapsulated Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogel Film for Superior Function in Artificial Heart Valves: Physicochemical, Mechanical, and In Vitro Biological Studies","authors":"Heng Li, Yun Wang, Minghui Zhang, Xiaojing Tong, Wei Zhang, Seyed Morteza Naghib","doi":"10.1002/mba2.70057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mba2.70057","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels have adjustable mechanical properties and good biocompatibility, with broad prospects in heart valve replacement. Constructing PVA hydrogels with biomimetic structure and anisotropic mechanical properties has become a research hotspot due to the directional collagen layer of heart valves. In this study, agarose (AG) is utilized not only as a reinforcing agent but also as a modifier to enable the formation of a biomimetic, fiber-oriented hydrogel film. By exploiting the temperature‑dependent crosslinking of AG, we fabricate a hydrogel film via shear force induction, with a well‑aligned fibrous microstructure (mean fiber diameter 0.16 ± 0.03 μm). Mechanical evaluations reveal that the oriented hydrogel film gelled at 60°C achieves optimal performance, with tensile tangent modulus values ranging from 0.31 to 4.01 MPa perpendicular to the fiber direction and 0.33–6.05 MPa parallel to the fibers. Corresponding tensile strengths reach 1.75 and 2.63 MPa, respectively, satisfying the mechanical demands of pulmonary valve tissue. Furthermore, in vitro assays demonstrate excellent cytocompatibility (cell viability > 92%) and hemocompatibility (hemolysis rate < 2%). These findings highlight that the oriented PVA‑AG hydrogel film, combining anisotropic mechanics and biocompatibility, is a promising biomimetic material for artificial heart valves.</p>","PeriodicalId":100901,"journal":{"name":"MedComm – Biomaterials and Applications","volume":"5 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/mba2.70057","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148282382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nourhane A. Darwich, Rana El Hajj, Mahmoud I. Khalil
{"title":"Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles in Diabetes: In Vivo Mechanisms, Therapeutic Potential, and Future Perspectives: A Review","authors":"Nourhane A. Darwich, Rana El Hajj, Mahmoud I. Khalil","doi":"10.1002/mba2.70056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mba2.70056","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Diabetes mellitus (DM), a multifactorial metabolic condition characterized by persistent hyperglycemia, causes serious systemic complications. Although conventional treatment modalities are widely used, their effectiveness in diabetes management is often limited by side effects and insufficient targeting of underlying pathological processes. This review examines the in vivo mechanisms, therapeutic potential, and future perspectives of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in diabetes management. Biogenic AgNPs, particularly those synthesized using plant or microbial systems, have gained increasing interest due to their improved biocompatibility and multifunctional biological properties. In vivo studies indicate that these nanomaterials regulate glycemic levels, preserve pancreatic cell integrity, modulate lipid metabolism, and attenuate inflammation and oxidative stress through signaling pathways involving reactive oxygen species (ROS), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-<span></span><math>\u0000 <semantics>\u0000 <mrow>\u0000 \u0000 <mrow>\u0000 <mi>κ</mi>\u0000 </mrow>\u0000 </mrow>\u0000 <annotation> $kappa $</annotation>\u0000 </semantics></math>B), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt). Additionally, these nanosystems can function as carriers for targeted drug delivery, potentially enhancing therapeutic outcomes. However, differences in synthesis methods, properties, and study results make it difficult to compare them. Moreover, insufficient results regarding safety and efficacy have been reported for these nanoparticles. However, several challenges have to be addressed for the safe and effective use of these nanoparticles in diabetes management.</p>","PeriodicalId":100901,"journal":{"name":"MedComm – Biomaterials and Applications","volume":"5 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/mba2.70056","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148237718","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"High-Fidelity 3D Printing of Branched Tubular Tissues: Quantitative Geometric Validation and Functional Coronary Perfusion Simulation","authors":"Jieling Zhao, Chunlan Chen, Congcong Huang, Jiamin Zhang, Zijie Yuan, Tingyi Xiao, Yuee Dai, Guihua Wei","doi":"10.1002/mba2.70055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mba2.70055","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Tubular tissues, including the trachea, pulmonary artery, and coronary artery, possess the complex branched geometries crucial for physiological functions. This study presents a rigorous quantitative framework for evaluating the geometric accuracy of 3D-printed tubular models. By leveraging high-resolution CT imaging and computational reconstruction, the framework provides a high-fidelity basis for simulating coronary blood flow. Utilizing Mimics and 3-matic software, anatomical structures were converted into 3D STL files. Accuracy was assessed by comparing these files to the original DICOM images and subsequently comparing 3D-printed physical models back to the digital STL counterparts via multi-axial measurements at identical anatomical landmarks along the <i>X</i>, <i>Y</i>, and <i>Z</i> axes. Statistical validation, including linear regression, Pearson's correlation, ICC, and Bland–Altman plots, revealed the excellent geometric fidelity (<i>r</i>² > 0.99, ICC = 0.98) with negligible localized deformations. Furthermore, we integrated coronary blood flow-perfusion simulation under the normal and diseased conditions to demonstrate the potential of the reconstructed model as a non-invasive tool for diagnosis and treatment planning. These findings validate the precision and reliability of high-fidelity 3D-printed tubular as reliable tools for preoperative planning, personalized surgical simulation, and advanced medical education. Also, this study provided a robust platform for improving clinical outcomes in complex branched tissue interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":100901,"journal":{"name":"MedComm – Biomaterials and Applications","volume":"5 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/mba2.70055","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148173762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}