Gels最新文献

{"title":"Permeation Enhancer in Microemulsions and Microemulsion-Based Gels: A Comparison of Diethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether and Oleyl Alcohol.","authors":"Sujata Pandey, Gabriella Baki","doi":"10.3390/gels11010041","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11010041","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Microemulsions have been commonly used with various permeation enhancers to improve permeability through the skin. The purpose of this study was to compare the release and permeation ability of two commonly used permeation enhancers-diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (DGME) and oleyl alcohol-by the changes in oil composition, the addition of a gelling agent, and water content using ibuprofen as a model drug. Four microemulsions were formulated, selection was based on ternary phase diagrams, and physicochemical properties were evaluated. The release and permeation of the microemulsion formulations were performed in vitro by Franz cell studies on a regenerated cellulose membrane and a Strat-M^® membrane, respectively, and the amount of ibuprofen permeated and released was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). All four microemulsions were compatible with the skin pH, and the average pH ranged from 4.9 to 5.6. The average droplet size of the microemulsions ranged from 119.8 to 153.3 nm. Drug release was significantly the highest from the gel-based microemulsions (59% and 64%, <i>p</i> < 0.05). However, there was a fourfold difference in drug permeation from these gels-a significantly higher permeation from the microemulsion-gel containing oleic acid and oleyl alcohol compared to the DGME formulation. These results indicated that the microemulsion-gel with oleyl alcohol as the permeation enhancer could be a preferable formulation approach for the topical administration of ibuprofen. These results highlight the need for optimization of the microemulsion formulation to confirm the permeation-enhancing effects of chosen permeation enhancers despite being a well-known permeation enhancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11764590/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143032678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergistic Antibacterial Action of Norfloxacin-Encapsulated G4 Hydrogels: The Role of Boronic Acid and Cyclodextrin.","authors":"Monica-Cornelia Sardaru, Irina Rosca, Simona Morariu, Elena-Laura Ursu, Alexandru Rotaru","doi":"10.3390/gels11010035","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11010035","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this present study, we developed and characterized a series of supramolecular G4 hydrogels by integrating <i>β</i>-cyclodextrin (<i>β</i>-CD) and boronic acid linkers into a supramolecular matrix to enhance antibacterial activity against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S. aureus</i>). We systematically investigated how varying the number of free boronic acid moieties (ranging from two to six), along with guanosine and β-CD content, influences both the structural integrity and antimicrobial efficacy of these materials. Comprehensive characterization using FTIR, circular dichroism, X-ray diffraction, SEM, AFM, and rheological measurements confirmed successful synthesis and revealed that higher boronic acid content correlated with a stronger, more organized network. The most effective hydrogel displayed an inhibition zone of 25 mm in disk diffusion assays, and was further explored as a drug delivery platform, with the aim to exploit the capacity of the free <i>β</i>-CD cavity of the hydrogels to incorporate hydrophobic drugs. Norfloxacin (Nfx), a poorly water-soluble antibiotic, was successfully encapsulated within the hydrogel matrix through the inclusion of complex formation with <i>β</i>-CD, improving its solubility and enabling sustained, targeted release. The Nfx-loaded hydrogel expanded the inhibition zone to 49 mm and completely eradicated <i>S. aureus</i> cells within 24 h, outperforming both the unloaded hydrogel and free Nfx. These results highlight the synergistic effect of boronic acid moieties and controlled drug release, underlining the potential of these hydrogels as versatile platforms for localized antimicrobial therapy, such as in wound dressings or implant coatings. Nevertheless, further in vivo studies and long-term stability assessments are needed to fully establish clinical relevance, safety, and scalability before these systems can be translated into routine healthcare applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11764500/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143032881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Polymer Gels Based on PAMAM Dendrimers Functionalized with Caffeic Acid for Wound-Healing Applications.","authors":"Ricardo I Castro, Wendy Donoso, Franko Restovic, Oscar Forero-Doria, Luis Guzman","doi":"10.3390/gels11010036","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11010036","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The wound-healing process has usually been related to therapeutic agents with antioxidant properties. Among them, caffeic acid, a cinnamic acid derivative, stands out. However, the use of this natural product is affected by its bioavailability and half-life. Nowadays, different approaches are being taken to improve the above-mentioned characteristics, as many active surface groups are present in polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers; without the need for extra cross-linking agents, physical gels are created by interactions such as hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, or π-π interactions based on the modification of the surface. One of these is functionalization with dendrimers, such as the poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) family. To evaluate the effectiveness of functionalizing caffeic acid with PAMAM dendrimers, the in vitro and in vivo wound-healing properties of gel-PAMAM G3 conjugated with caffeic acid (GPG3Ca) and its precursor, cinnamic acid (GPG3Cin), were studied. The results showed no cytotoxicity and wound-healing activity at a concentration of 20 μg/mL in HaCaT cells with the GPG3Ca. Additionally, the ability to activate molecular mediators of the healing process was evidenced. Furthermore, GPG3Ca potentiated the in vivo wound-healing process. The positive effects and lack of cytotoxicity at the used concentration of the synthesized GPG3Ca on the wound-healing process could position it as an effective agent for wound-healing treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11764813/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143032772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Kombucha Versus Vegetal Cellulose for Affordable Mucoadhesive (nano)Formulations.","authors":"Ioana Popa-Tudor, Naomi Tritean, Ștefan-Ovidiu Dima, Bogdan Trică, Marius Ghiurea, Anisoara Cimpean, Florin Oancea, Diana Constantinescu-Aruxandei","doi":"10.3390/gels11010037","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11010037","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cellulose nanofibers gained increasing interest in the production of medical devices such as mucoadhesive nanohydrogels due to their ability to retain moisture (high hydrophilicity), flexibility, superior porosity and durability, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and biocompatibility. In this work, we aimed to compare the suitability of selected bacterial and vegetal nanocellulose to form hydrogels for biomedical applications. The vegetal and bacterial cellulose nanofibers were synthesized from brewer's spent grains (BSG) and kombucha membranes, respectively. Two hydrogels were prepared, one based on the vegetal and the other based on the bacterial cellulose nanofibers (VNC and BNC, respectively). VNC was less opaque and more fluid than BNC. The cytocompatibility and in vitro antioxidant activity of the nanocellulose-based hydrogels were investigated using human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1, ATCC CRL-2014). The investigation of the hydrogel-mucin interaction revealed that the BNC hydrogel had an approx. 2× higher mucin binding efficiency than the VNC hydrogel at a hydrogel/mucin ratio (mg/mg) = 4. The BNC hydrogel exhibited the highest potential to increase the number of metabolically active viable cells (107.60 ± 0.98% of cytotoxicity negative control) among all culture conditions. VNC reduced the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by about 23% (105.5 ± 2.2% of C-) in comparison with the positive control, whereas the ROS level was slightly higher (120.2 ± 3.9% of C-) following the BNC hydrogel treatment. Neither of the two hydrogels showed antibacterial activity when assessed by the diffusion method. The data suggest that the BNC hydrogel based on nanocellulose from kombucha fermentation could be a better candidate for cytocompatible and mucoadhesive nanoformulations than the VNC hydrogel based on nanocellulose from brewer's spent grains. The antioxidant and antibacterial activity of BNC and both BNC and VNC, respectively, should be improved.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11765165/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143032873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigation of Chitosan-Based Hydrogels and Polycaprolactone-Based Electrospun Fibers as Wound Dressing Materials Based on Mechanical, Physical, and Chemical Characterization.","authors":"Barkin Aydin, Nihat Arol, Nimet Burak, Aybala Usta, Muhammet Ceylan","doi":"10.3390/gels11010039","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11010039","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aim of this project is to fabricate fiber mats and hydrogel materials that constitute the two main components of a wound dressing material. The contributions of boric acid (BA) and zinc oxide (ZnO) to the physical and mechanical properties of polycaprolactone (PCL) is investigated. These materials are chosen for their antimicrobial and antifungal effects. Additionally, since chitosan forms brittle hydrogels, it is reinforced with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to improve ductility and water uptake properties. For these purposes, PCL, BA, ZnO, PVA, and chitosan are used in different ratios to fabricate nanofiber mats and hydrogels. Mechanical, physical, and chemical characteristics are examined. The highest elastic modulus and tensile strength are obtained from samples with 6% BA and 10% ZnO concentrations. ZnO-decorated fibers exhibit a higher elastic modulus than those with BA, though BA-containing fibers exhibit greater elongation before breakage. All fibers exhibit hydrophobic properties, which help to prevent biofilm formation. In compression tests, CS12 demonstrates the highest strength. Increasing the PVA content enhances ductility, while a higher concentration of chitosan results in a denser structure. This outcome is confirmed by FTIR and swelling tests. These findings highlight the optimal combinations of nanofibrous mats and hydrogels, offering guidance for future wound dressing designs that balance mechanical strength, water absorption, and antimicrobial properties. By stacking these nanofibrous mats and hydrogels in different orders, it is expected to achieve a wound care material that is suitable for various applications. The authors encourage experimentation with different configurations of these nanofiber and hydrogel stackings to observe their mechanical behavior under real-life conditions in future studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11764951/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143032835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of Carboxymethyl Cellulose/Gelatin Hydrogel-Based Dressing Containing Cefdinir for Wound Healing Promotion in Animal Model.","authors":"Zahra Soleimani, Hadi Baharifar, Najmeh Najmoddin, Kamyar Khoshnevisan","doi":"10.3390/gels11010038","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11010038","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The skin serves as a critical barrier against external pathogens, and its wound healing is a complex biological process that requires careful management to ensure optimal tissue regeneration. Hydrogels, a class of hydrophilic polymers, have emerged as promising materials for wound dressings due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to create a moist wound environment conducive to cell proliferation and migration. In this research, a hydrogel dressing containing cefdinir (Cef) was made from a combination of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and gelatin (Gel) by a physical crosslinking method, and their physicochemical, mechanical, and biological properties were investigated. Results show that the addition of Cef does not cause a significant change in the morphology or the tensile strength of the wound dressing. The swelling and degradation rate of the hydrogel slightly increased in the presence of Cef. The presence of Cef enhanced antibacterial effects up to 2.5-fold against <i>P. aeruginosa</i> (35 mm), <i>S. aureus</i> (36 mm), and <i>S. pyogenes</i> (35 mm). The results of the cytotoxicity test showed the absence of cytotoxicity in both drug-containing and drug-free wound dressings, as well as a survival rate of over 75% in cells after 48 h. The drug-containing wound dressing accelerates the formation of the epidermis layer and the production of fibroblast cells, and as a result, accelerates the wound healing process. The percentage of wound healing on the ninth day of treatment for an untreated wound was 30%, while this percentage was 40% with a wound dressing without medicine and 60% with a wound dressing containing medicine, and on the fifteenth day of treatment, the wound treated with both wound dressings had more than 85% healing. As a result, it is possible to use CMC/Gel hydrogel polymeric wound dressing containing Cef as a wound dressing for wound healing, according to the desired physicochemical properties and biocompatibility.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11765047/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143032781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Cordyceps militaris</i>-Derived Bioactive Gels: Therapeutic and Anti-Aging Applications in Dermatology.","authors":"Trung Quang Nguyen, Thinh Van Pham, Yusuf Andriana, Minh Ngoc Truong","doi":"10.3390/gels11010033","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11010033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Cordyceps militaris</i> is a medicinal mushroom widely utilized in traditional East Asian medicine, recognized for its diverse therapeutic properties. This review explores the potential of <i>C. militaris</i>-derived bioactive gels for applications in dermatology and skincare, with a particular focus on their therapeutic and anti-aging benefits. In response to the rising incidence of skin cancers and the growing demand for natural bioactive ingredients, <i>C. militaris</i> has emerged as a valuable source of functional compounds, including cordycepin, polysaccharides, and adenosine. These compounds exhibit multiple bioactivities, including apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, and anti-inflammatory effects, which have been shown to be particularly effective against melanoma and other skin cancers. Additionally, the antioxidant properties of <i>C. militaris</i> enhance skin resilience by scavenging reactive oxygen species, reducing oxidative stress, and promoting collagen synthesis, thereby addressing skin health and anti-aging requirements. The potential for incorporating <i>C. militaris</i> compounds into gel-based formulations for skincare is also examined, either as standalone bioactives or in combination with synergistic ingredients. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of clinical trials and standardization to establish the safety, efficacy, and reproducibility of such applications. By providing a safer alternative to synthetic agents, <i>C. militaris</i>-derived bioactive gels represent a promising advancement in dermatology and skincare.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11764995/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143032717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Simultaneous Encapsulation of Probiotic Bacteria (<i>Lactococcus lactis</i>, and <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i>) in Calcium Alginate Hydrogels.","authors":"Marko Vinceković, Luna Maslov Bandić, Fabijan Oštarić, Marta Kiš, Nevijo Zdolec, Ivan Marić, Suzana Šegota, Hana Zelić, Nataša Mikulec","doi":"10.3390/gels11010034","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11010034","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Encapsulation in alginate hydrogel microspheres is an effective method for protecting and improving the survival of lactic acid bacteria in different environments. This research aims to expand the knowledge about the structure/property relationship of calcium alginate microspheres loaded with a mixture of autochthonous probiotic bacteria (<i>Lactococcus lactis</i> and <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i>). A novel hydrogel formulation (FORMLAB) was prepared by ionic gelation and the molecular interactions between the FORMLAB constituents, surface morphology, structure, swelling degree, and release profile were characterized. The simultaneous encapsulation of two bacterial cultures in the same compartment does not diminish their viability. The binding of calcium ions to bacterial cells creates favorable conditions for the propagation of the encapsulated bacteria. The molecular interactions between the FORMLAB constituents are complex, involving mainly hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions. With a very high degree of swelling followed by low crosslinking, the surface of the microspheres covered with bacterial cells and diffusion through the hydrogel matrix allow for the delivery of probiotics at the right time. The findings suggest that bacterial cells are efficiently delivered from calcium alginate microspheres, offering promising applications in the development of functional foods, especially in cheese production.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11765212/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143032879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rapid Multi-Well Evaluation of Assorted Materials for Hydrogel-Assisted Giant Unilamellar Vesicle Production: Empowering Bottom-Up Synthetic Biology.","authors":"Cherng-Wen Darren Tan, Magdalena Schöller, Eva-Kathrin Ehmoser","doi":"10.3390/gels11010029","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11010029","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are versatile cell models in biomedical and environmental research. Of the various GUV production methods, hydrogel-assisted GUV production is most easily implemented in a typical biological laboratory. To date, agarose, polyvinyl alcohol, cross-linked dextran-PEG, polyacrylamide, and starch hydrogels have been used to produce GUVs. Some leach and contaminate the GUVs, while others require handling toxic material or specialised chemistry, thus limiting their use by novices. Alternative hydrogel materials could address these issues or even offer novel advantages. To facilitate discovery, we replaced the manual spreading of reagents with controlled drop-casting in glass Petri dishes and polystyrene multi-well plates, allowing us to rapidly screen up to 96 GUV-production formulations simultaneously. Exploiting this, we rapidly evaluated assorted biomedical hydrogels, including PEG-DA, cross-linked hyaluronic acid, Matrigel, and cross-linked DNA. All of these alternatives successfully produced GUVs. In the process, we also developed a treatment for recycling agarose and polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels for GUV production, and successfully encapsulated porcine liver esterase (PLE-GUVs). PLE-GUVs offer a novel method of GUV labelling and tracing, which emulates the calcein-AM staining behaviour of cells. Our results highlight the utility of our protocol for potentiating substrate material discovery, as well as protocol and product development.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11765364/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143032832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Employing Polymer and Gel to Fabricate Scaffold-like Cancellous Orthopedic Screw: Polycaprolactone/Chitosan/Hydroxyapatite.","authors":"AmirHossein Badami, Javad Esmaeili, Hasan Mirtalaie","doi":"10.3390/gels11010028","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11010028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Using metallic/polymeric orthopedic screws causes cavities in bone trauma after the attachment of broken bones, which prolongs the healing. Yet, it remains unknown how to overcome such a challenge. The main aim of this research was to use both polymers and gels to fabricate and study a new PCL/chitosan/hydroxyapatite scaffold-like orthopedic screw for cancellous bone trauma. This screw, because of its low stiffness and its scaffold-based matrix (due to the gel part), can facilitate bone healing. Different concentrations of PCL (60-95% <i>w/v</i>) and chitosan (0-5% <i>w/v</i>) were blended according to the Response Surface Methodology using the Central Composite Design. The screws were fabricated using the freeze-drying technique. The screws were assessed mechanically, physically, and biologically (cell viability, cell attachment, DAPI, ALP staining, and Alizarin Red staining), and in vivo (a rat subcutaneous implantation model). Based on the results, screws depending on the PCL and gel content depicted different but notable mechanical behavior (10-60 MPa of compressive strength and 100-600 N force). The gel part could affect the physical properties of screws including water uptake (120%), degradation (18% after 21 days), porosities (23%), and mechanical strength (elastic modulus = 59.47 Mpa). The results also demonstrated no cytotoxicity towards MC3T3 cells (>80% cell viability) with good cell attachment, cell concentration, and mineralization (>90%) that was justified by the gel content. The results also showed good in vivo biocompatibility. To sum up, fabricated scaffold-like screws with gel content can be a good candidate for cancellous-bone-based orthopedic purposes. However, more in vitro and in vivo studies are required to optimize the PCL:gel ratio.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11765406/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143032767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}