{"title":"Architecturally Refined Cerium-Integrated Hydroxyapatite/CNT Nanocomposite Coatings: Enhanced Mechanics and Biofunction for Orthopaedic Implantation.","authors":"Durgesh Phogat, Pooja Rani, Amrita Biswas, Kantesh Balani, Shikha Awasthi","doi":"10.1002/mabi.202500384","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.202500384","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hydroxyapatite (HAP) composite coatings have emerged as promising candidates in orthopaedic implantology because they promote osteoconduction and facilitate biological integration. This study investigates the effect of cerium (Ce) incorporation at graded concentrations (0.3-0.8 wt.%) on the microstructural, interfacial, and functional properties of hydroxyapatite/carbon nanotube (HAP/CNT) hybrid nanocomposite coatings fabricated via electrochemical deposition mode. Among the developed systems, the HAP-CNT-0.8Ce formulation demonstrated outstanding performance, exhibiting a Ca/P atomic ratio of 1.56, a water contact angle of 40.8° with surface roughness of 0.66 µm, a maximum hardness of 354 HV, an adhesion strength of 52 MPa, and pronounced antibacterial activity, reducing the viability of E. coli and S. aureus to ∼67.5%, and ∼45.6%, respectively. The bioactivity analysis revealed that HAP-CNT-Ce coatings exhibited sustained ion release-mediated apatite nucleation in simulated body fluid, leading to enhanced HAP crystallisation and superior biomineralization potential. The HAP-CNT-0.8Ce variant, characterized by a nanoscale crystallite size of 20 ± 2.1 nm and a crystallinity degree of 44.45%, exhibited a refined grain architecture that markedly enhanced its mechanical and biological performance, thereby affirming its structural robustness and interfacial integrity. Altogether, the integration of multifunctional attributes, including mechanical robustness, cellular compatibility, and enhanced osseointegration, positions this advanced coating as a highly viable solution for next-generation orthopaedic implants and bone regeneration platforms in the context of translational biomedical engineering.</p>","PeriodicalId":18103,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular bioscience","volume":" ","pages":"e00384"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145251748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hao Xue, Shengjia Chen, Zhechen Yuan, Yi Hu, Juntao Huang, Yi Shen
{"title":"Evaluation of a Photopolymerized Gelatin Hydrogel Network with bFGF-Loaded Alginate Microspheres for Tympanic Membrane Perforation Repair in Rats.","authors":"Hao Xue, Shengjia Chen, Zhechen Yuan, Yi Hu, Juntao Huang, Yi Shen","doi":"10.1002/mabi.202500261","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.202500261","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tympanic membrane perforation (TMP) often leads to hearing loss and requires effective repair strategies. However, existing surgical options are invasive and lack ideal biomaterials for scaffold-based healing. Herein, we present a custom-engineered mechano-acoustic responsive hydrogel incorporating bFGF-loaded sodium alginate microspheres, designed for controlled drug release and tissue regeneration under dual stimulation: vibrational simulation and low-frequency acoustic waves (generated by radio devices) - representing its first transition from in vitro characterization to in vivo regenerative application. This polymer-based scaffold exhibits robust adhesion, biocompatibility, and mechanoresponsive release behavior. A rat acute TMP model was employed to evaluate the hydrogel's therapeutic efficacy. Compared with control and blank hydrogel groups, the bFGF-loaded mechanoresponsive hydrogel (SGM) noticeably accelerated tympanic membrane closure, reduced local inflammation, and enhanced early auditory recovery, as confirmed by otoscopic inspection, ABR tests, histological staining, and TEM imaging. Our findings demonstrate that the SGM hydrogel effectively promotes functional tissue regeneration and early hearing restoration in vivo. This work highlights the potential of polymer-based, stimuli-responsive biomaterials in advancing minimally invasive strategies for TMP treatment and offers valuable insights for future tissue engineering applications in otolaryngology.</p>","PeriodicalId":18103,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular bioscience","volume":" ","pages":"e00261"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145199765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"'Catch and Release' Polymeric Fibers: Versatile Interfaces for Engineering Reversible Platforms for Biomolecular Immobilization and Antibacterial Coatings.","authors":"Meltem Alkis, Alexandre Barras, Rabah Boukherroub, Sabine Szunerits, Amitav Sanyal","doi":"10.1002/mabi.202500346","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.202500346","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Stimuli-responsive polymeric fibers have emerged as an indispensable material for numerous biomedical applications. Strategies to conjugate functional molecules with high specificity onto these nanofibers are vital to tailor these materials for specific applications. When the functionalization is reversible, these materials can serve as a 'catch and release' platform, which widens their applicability. Herein, polymeric fibers with an average diameter of about 237 ± 44 nm, amenable to reversible conjugation, are fabricated using electrospinning. The thiol-disulfide exchange reaction is employed to functionalize the electrospun fibers with thiol-containing functional molecules ranging from fluorescent dyes to bioactive ligands for protein immobilization. It is demonstrated that the linked (bio)molecules can be efficiently released in the presence of a thiol-containing reducing agent. Specifically, pyridyl disulfide (PDS)-containing copolymers are synthesized using a thiol-reactive PDS-based monomer, methyl methacrylate, and poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate, where the monomers enable thiol-based specific functionalization, stable fiber formation, and anti-biofouling characteristics, respectively. After demonstrating efficient functionalization and release using fluorescent dyes and bioactive ligands, these fibers are conjugated with a thiol-containing cationic antibacterial peptide. It is demonstrated that the released peptide preserves its antibacterial activity against planktonic bacteria as well as biofilms. One can envision that the facile fabrication, efficient functionalization, and on-demand release attribute of these reversibly functionalizable polymeric fibers disclosed here would be attractive platforms for a wide range of biomedical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":18103,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular bioscience","volume":" ","pages":"e00346"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145199770","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Adhesive Gelatin/Chitosan Hydrogel Coating Containing MgO Nanoparticles for Promoting Soft Tissue Integration.","authors":"Zihan Ma, Chengde Liu, Yizheng Li, Xigao Jian","doi":"10.1002/mabi.202500231","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.202500231","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The implant-soft tissue interface is critical for successful integration. However, developing multifunctional coatings that combine antibacterial action, strong interfacial adhesion, and regenerative capacity remains a significant challenge. This study presents a novel hydrogel coating for surface modification of phthalazinone-naphthalene-based Poly(phthalazinone ether ketone) (PPEK) implants. The coating consists of an MgO nanoparticle-embedded, photocrosslinked gelatin/chitosan hydrogel functionalized with NHS groups. XPS and <sup>1</sup>H NMR analyses confirmed that NHS groups mediate covalent bonding. This bonding occurs with amine moieties on both plasma-activated PPEK implants and soft tissues, substantially improving interfacial adhesion. The coating demonstrated dual functionality: broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and sustained Mg<sup>2</sup>⁺ release. The released Mg<sup>2</sup>⁺ exhibited multiphase bioeffects. These bioeffects include enhanced migration of L929 fibroblasts, HUVECs, and HaCaT keratinocytes; stimulated HUVEC tubulogenesis; and upregulated extracellular matrix synthesis. Both in vitro and in vivo assessments revealed synergistic acceleration of collagen deposition and angiogenesis. This synergy facilitates rapid soft tissue regeneration. Subcutaneous implantation models demonstrated dual integration mechanisms: NHS-driven covalent adhesion and Mg<sup>2</sup>⁺-mediated bioactive remodeling via cellular activation. These results position the MgO-integrated nanocomposite hydrogel as a multifunctional therapeutic coating. It simultaneously addresses microbial resistance, interfacial stability, and tissue regeneration for optimized implant-soft tissue integration. The design paradigm merges physicochemical bonding with ion-modulated bioactivity. This approach offers a strategic solution for complex interface engineering in biomedical implants.</p>","PeriodicalId":18103,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular bioscience","volume":" ","pages":"e00231"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145125043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xiaochu Ding, Ying Grace Chen, Ethan Goltz, Narangerel Gantumur, Bruce P Lee
{"title":"Biodegradable Synthetic Graft with Sustained Hydrogen Sulfide Release Promotes Endothelial Cell Growth.","authors":"Xiaochu Ding, Ying Grace Chen, Ethan Goltz, Narangerel Gantumur, Bruce P Lee","doi":"10.1002/mabi.202500308","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.202500308","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) is an endogenous gasotransmitter that possesses multiple pathological and physiological functions, including anti-inflammation, anti-thrombosis, anti-calcification, inhibition of intimal hyperplasia, and promotion of angiogenesis. Therefore, we aim to design an H<sub>2</sub>S-releasing resorbable synthetic graft that utilizes the therapeutic benefits of the H<sub>2</sub>S to modulate the graft regeneration. To ease fabrication of the H<sub>2</sub>S-releasing graft, we have designed a pair of functional polyesters that are electrospinnable and photocurable to form an elastic fibrous conduit. The conduit bears free thiol groups that are conjugated with a methacrylated H<sub>2</sub>S donor through thiol-ene click chemistry to form an H<sub>2</sub>S-releasing graft. The graft can sustainably release H<sub>2</sub>S over ∼12 days in vitro. Differing from prior designs, the H<sub>2</sub>S-releasing graft simultaneously possesses key features of a robust elasticity, and suitable mechanical properties, degradation rate and porosity. At the proof-of-concept stage, we examined the H<sub>2</sub>S stimulation on endothelial cell growth using the graft with a low H<sub>2</sub>S releasing rate. The results demonstrated that the graft with sustained H<sub>2</sub>S release could significantly promote endothelial cell growth in vitro. This work paved the way for in vivo evaluation of the H<sub>2</sub>S-releasing graft.</p>","PeriodicalId":18103,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular bioscience","volume":" ","pages":"e00308"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145124963","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amir Hashemi, Masoumeh Ezati, Rima Paul, Inna Zumberg, Jaromir Bacovsky, Zdenka Fohlerova, Valentyna Provaznik
{"title":"Comparative Effects of ZnO, MgO, and CaO Nanoparticles in 3D-Printed Chitosan-Agarose Scaffolds on Antibacterial and Osteogenic Outcomes.","authors":"Amir Hashemi, Masoumeh Ezati, Rima Paul, Inna Zumberg, Jaromir Bacovsky, Zdenka Fohlerova, Valentyna Provaznik","doi":"10.1002/mabi.202500232","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.202500232","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the field of orthopedic surgery, large bone defects resulting from trauma, surgical resection, or congenital anomalies present significant challenges. In many cases, treatment necessitates scaffold structures that not only support bone regeneration but also address potential bacterial infections that can impede healing. In this study, we developed 3D bioprinted scaffolds using hydrogel-based biomaterial ink comprising a blend of chitosan (CS) and agarose (AG), each separately fortified with ZnO, MgO, and CaO nanoparticles (NPs). We performed a comprehensive assessment of the inks' printability and wettability, and ascertained their rheological properties. The in vitro degradation of 3D bioprinted scaffolds was analyzed, their antibacterial capabilities against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were explored, and the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) was evaluated. The findings indicated that the hydrogel, CS-AG (CA), composed of 3.5% (w/v) CS and 1.5% (w/v) AG, demonstrated superior printing characteristics. Among the nanoparticles, ZnO proved to be a notable booster of antibacterial activity and facilitated osteogenic differentiation and proliferation of bone marrow stem cells. Conversely, MgO showed similar antibacterial efficacy but was less successful in promoting cell proliferation compared to ZnO and CaO, whereas CaO displayed the weakest antibacterial efficacy. The results identify the ZnO NP-loaded CA biomaterial ink as a viable option for addressing bone abnormalities, enhancing bone repair, and preventing bacterial infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":18103,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular bioscience","volume":" ","pages":"e00232"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145125153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cell Behavior and Complex Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed Cell-Laden Alginate-Gelatin Macroporous Mesostructures.","authors":"Nicoletta Murenu, Jessica Faber, Anahita Ahmadi Soufivand, Monika Buss, Natascha Schaefer, Silvia Budday","doi":"10.1002/mabi.202500204","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.202500204","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bioprinting involves additive manufacturing of materials containing living cells, known as bioinks, which are formulated from cytocompatible hydrogel precursors. The bioink's characteristics before, during, and after crosslinking are critical for its printability, structural resolution, shape fidelity, and cell viability. The mechanical properties of printed constructs can be strongly influenced by their macroporous mesostructure, including pore size, filament diameter, and layer height, and are crucial for the intended applications in tissue engineering or regenerative medicine. It is known that the mechanical properties of hydrogels influence cell performance, but in turn, cells can also alter the mechanical properties of bioprinted constructs, which remain poorly understood. To explore these interdependencies, we selected an alginate-gelatin hydrogel (ALG-GEL), due to its well-known biocompatibility, combined with U87 cells and bioprinted three different multilayer macroporous mesostructures with varying porosity and filament diameter. We investigate how different macroporous mesostructures affect cells, how cells, in turn, influence mechanical properties, and whether the stability and mechanical properties of bioprinted macroporous mesostructures change over time. Our findings show that the bioprinted constructs are stable over the course of 14 days and highlight that cells can significantly influence their mechanical properties. This has important implications for biofabrication and tissue engineering applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":18103,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular bioscience","volume":" ","pages":"e00204"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145075596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alina V Lokteva, Kristina O Baskakova, Erik R Gandalipov, Nikita S Serov, Mariia A Mikhailova, Elena I Koshel
{"title":"Biohybrid Living Material with Antibacterial and Regenerating Properties Based on Probiotic Bacteria Stress Metabolism Modulation.","authors":"Alina V Lokteva, Kristina O Baskakova, Erik R Gandalipov, Nikita S Serov, Mariia A Mikhailova, Elena I Koshel","doi":"10.1002/mabi.202500452","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.202500452","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Wound healing is an intricate process that involves various biochemical pathways at each stage of tissue regeneration. Wound therapy is a series of distinct treatment stages that has a limited efficacy if wounds are of complex etiologies. A modern approach to this problem may be the development of bifunctional adaptive biohybrid systems that can concurrently affect pathogens' growth, inflammation, and tissue regeneration. We have developed biohybrid living material with antibacterial and regenerating properties based on induced hormesis by oxidative stress onto probiotic bacteria with prolonged synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, increased antibacterial action, and regeneration of the burn wound. Material demonstrates almost complete wound healing with a wound area difference 3-4 times with natural healing in vivo burn wound model for 21 days, antibacterial activity against wound antibiotic-resistance pathogens Escherichia coli K12 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 in 4 and 5-fold, respectively in co-cultivation model, and has no toxicity to human skin fibroblasts and β-hemolysis in the in vitro model. Our findings promise the improving tissue regeneration of burn wounds, therapy against antibiotic-resistance pathogens by eliminating antibiotics, and other classical bactericides.</p>","PeriodicalId":18103,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular bioscience","volume":" ","pages":"e00452"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145075668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Continuous Chitosan/Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Nanofiber in Collagen Hydrogel to Prepare Mechanically Robust Fibrous Nanocomposite for Tissue Engineering","authors":"Shakiba Kalhori, Ayoob Karimizade, Mohsen Sadeghi-Ghadikolaei, Masoud Siaghi, Amir Mellati, Somayeh Shahani","doi":"10.1002/mabi.70060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.70060","url":null,"abstract":"<p><b>Front Cover</b>: In article 2500230, Amir Mellati, Somayeh Shahani, and co-workers present a collagen hydrogel reinforced with chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofibers via wet electrospinning. The nanocomposite exhibits enhanced mechanical strength, reduced degradation, and improved cellular compatibility, retaining a nanofibrous microstructure that mimics the extracellular matrix, ideal for soft tissue engineering applications like cartilage and skin regeneration.\u0000\u0000 <figure>\u0000 <div><picture>\u0000 <source></source></picture><p></p>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </figure></p>","PeriodicalId":18103,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular bioscience","volume":"25 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/mabi.70060","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145062506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}