Smart Materials in Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Synergistic Effect of Topographical Cue and Local Drug Delivery: An Axially-Aligned AM80-Loaded Graft for Preventing Intimal Hyperplasia in Small-Diameter Vascular Grafts","authors":"Fubang Liang, Xinyi Li, Fengqing Yin, Dawei Jin, Xiumei Mo, Meng Yin","doi":"10.1016/j.smaim.2026.06.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smaim.2026.06.002","url":null,"abstract":"Small-diameter vascular grafts (SDVGs) continue to present significant clinical challenges due to their poor long-term patency, which primarily results from incomplete endothelialization and intimal hyperplasia (IH). Inspired by the structure of natural blood vessels, this study developed a bilayered electrospun vascular graft. The inner layer consisted of axially aligned poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL)/silk fibroin (SF) nanofibers designed to guide the alignment and elongation of endothelial cells (ECs), thereby mimicking the natural endothelial architecture. The outer layer was composed of non-aligned PLCL/SF fibers incorporating mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) loaded with tamibarotene (AM80), a selective retinoic acid receptor α (RARα) agonist. The graft exhibited an aligned microstructure, excellent mechanical properties, and favorable compliance. In vitro studies demonstrated that AM80, at certain concentrations, selectively inhibited the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Transcriptomic analysis further revealed that AM80 exerted its inhibitory effect on VSMCs by regulating the cell cycle. In vivo evaluation in a rat abdominal aorta implantation model confirmed that, compared to the control group, the graft showed superior patency at 1 and 3 months, accompanied by functional maturation of ECs, absence of significant intimal thickening, and favorable vascular remodeling. In summary, this bilayered graft integrates biomimetic structural design with sustained drug release to achieve long-term patency and offers a promising strategy for next-generation SDVG development.","PeriodicalId":22019,"journal":{"name":"Smart Materials in Medicine","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148394255","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":"Functional biomaterials meet osteosarcoma treatment","authors":"Ye Feng ,&nbsp;Hai Huang ,&nbsp;Dongdong Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhaoyu Li ,&nbsp;Feng Peng ,&nbsp;Huihui Du ,&nbsp;Xuanchen Liu ,&nbsp;Lan Chen ,&nbsp;Haobo Pan ,&nbsp;Ning Wang ,&nbsp;Donghui Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.smaim.2026.04.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smaim.2026.04.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Osteosarcoma (OS) is a highly aggressive primary bone malignancy with high incidences of pulmonary metastasis and mortality, predominantly affecting children and adolescents. Nanotechnology and nanomaterials have shown significant promise in improving OS diagnosis and treatment. They offer innovative solutions for targeted drug delivery, photothermal therapy, immunotherapy, and modulation of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Additionally, they can be engineered to specifically target tumor cells, deliver therapeutic agents with high precision, and improve overall treatment efficacy. Functional bone implants are crucial for providing mechanical support, preventing recurrence after surgical resection, and promoting bone regeneration. This comprehensive review provides a detailed overview on the current state of OS treatment, highlighting the critical role of advancements in clinical and material science for improving outcomes. This review systematically encompasses the current status of clinical therapeutic strategies as well as the latest advances in functional nanomaterials and bone implant-based approaches for OS treatment. By integrating recent advances in clinical bone oncology and biomedical engineering, this review introduces an innovative, need-driven narrative framework that systematically maps unmet clinical demands onto the precise design principles of functional materials, thereby offering a comprehensive and multidisciplinary perspective on the key challenges and emerging opportunities in OS therapy. Building on this logic, the proposed conceptual framework further translates these clinically defined requirements into actionable material strategies, providing a rational design blueprint and forward-looking roadmap for next-generation OS therapeutic platforms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22019,"journal":{"name":"Smart Materials in Medicine","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 225-271"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148167850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A photothermally catalytic nanocomposite dual-crosslinked hydrogel for all-in-one postoperative osteosarcoma bone repair","authors":"Meiqi Jin ,&nbsp;Wanting Liu ,&nbsp;Jun Miao ,&nbsp;Lin Tao ,&nbsp;Huazhe Yang ,&nbsp;Xiaoqian Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.smaim.2026.04.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smaim.2026.04.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Osteosarcoma is among the most aggressive primary bone malignancies in adolescents. Postoperative reconstruction presents a “dual challenge”: complete eradication of residual tumor tissue is required to minimize recurrence, while maximal preservation of surrounding tissues and functional regeneration of bone defects must be achieved. In this study, biomimetic nano–bone minerals based on Zn²⁺/Ce³⁺-substituted whitlockite (Zn²⁺/Ce³⁺-WH) were integrated into a dual-crosslinked hydrogel scaffold constructed from GelMA and GelDA, yielding a GDWH nanocomposite scaffold for an “all-in-one” postoperative osteosarcoma therapy. Under near-infrared irradiation, GDWH exhibited excellent photothermal performance, enabling pronounced photothermally induced ablation of osteosarcoma cells. Meanwhile, the accelerated redox cycling within GDWH efficiently scavenged excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby suppressing inflammatory responses and protecting adjacent tissues. Furthermore, under an osteoimmune-regulated microenvironment, the GDWH scaffold markedly enhanced osteogenic differentiation and promoted angiogenesis, consequently accelerating bone regeneration within the defect region. Overall, by integrating the triad of “tumor ablation–tissue protection–regenerative repair” into a single platform, the GDWH dual-crosslinked nanocomposite hydrogel scaffold offers a translationally promising, comprehensive solution for the complex postoperative pathology of osteosarcoma and provides new insights into multimodal synergistic therapeutic strategies for osteosarcoma.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22019,"journal":{"name":"Smart Materials in Medicine","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 193-205"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148167974","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Improved ossification patterns using new vat-polymerized 3D printed hydrogel–bioceramic composites with sustained ion release (Ca, P, Si)","authors":"Csaba Hegedűs,&nbsp;Etelka D. Tóth,&nbsp;Róbert Boda,&nbsp;István Lázár,&nbsp;Andrea Keczánné-Üveges,&nbsp;József Bakó,&nbsp;Ferenc Tóth,&nbsp;György Trencsényi,&nbsp;Ibolya Kálmán-Szabó,&nbsp;Monika Béresová,&nbsp;Zsófi Sajtos,&nbsp;Ádám Deák,&nbsp;Adrienn Tóth,&nbsp;Dóra Horváth,&nbsp;Botond Gaál,&nbsp;Lajos Daróczi,&nbsp;Balázs Dezső,&nbsp;László Ducza,&nbsp;Attila Jenei,&nbsp;József Tőzsér,&nbsp;Edit Hrubi","doi":"10.1016/j.smaim.2026.06.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smaim.2026.06.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bone and bone-deficiency diseases represent a significant clinical challenge, particularly in maxillofacial and orthopedic surgery. Although bone possesses considerable healing capacity, this is insufficient in cases of substantial defects. Various approaches have been proposed, including autograft, allograft, and alloplastic bioactive bone substitutes.</div><div>This study compares MPGA-based 3D-printable hydrogel (HG), β-tricalcium phosphate-filled hydrogel composite (BTCP-HG), and aerogel/BTCP-filled hydrogel (AE/BTCP-HG) scaffolds for <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em> investigations.</div><div>The 3D-printed composite hydrogels exhibited Young's modulus values of 0.1028 ± 0.041 MPa for BTCP-HG and 0.3350 ± 0.138 MPa for AE/BTCP-HG, corresponding to an approximately 3.3-fold increase in stiffness for the aerogel-containing composite.</div><div>Reossification and biodegradibilty appeared strongest with BTCP-HG scaffold with histological, imaging, biochemical and semiquantitative assessments, allowing anti-inflammatory microenvironment by early significant drop of CD68⁺ macrophages (1st month: 76.5 ± 7.2 vs. 3rd month: 3.25 ± 1.18 cells/section); confirmed also by high alkaline phosphatase activity. AE/BTCP-HG also displayed strong regenerative potential due to Si content, the consequent type I collagen build-up however, remained unmineralized until the 6th month, though subsequently, collagen is critical for hydroxyapatite deposition. Doubled pro-inflammatory CD68⁺ macrophages (1st month: 12.12 ± 1.2 vs. 6th month: 27.87 ± 1.87 cells/section) proximal to AE/BTCP-HG also tempts to confirm the promising regenerative potential.</div><div>Our newly developed light-curing, degradable PGA-based hydrogel composite shows promising potential for maxillofacial applications. A key advantage is its rapid digital design capability and compatibility with vat-photopolymerization. Our <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em> experiments indicate that BTCP and AE/BTCP bioceramics embedded in hydrogels can facilitate prolonged bone formation through a sustained slow-release mechanism.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22019,"journal":{"name":"Smart Materials in Medicine","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 407-421"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148582693","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":"Chiral noble-metal nanomaterials: Chiral origins and biomedical applications","authors":"Binqian Zhou ,&nbsp;Yunxiang Zhang ,&nbsp;Qian Lei ,&nbsp;Zhitao Zhang ,&nbsp;Rui Wang ,&nbsp;Peizhao Liu ,&nbsp;Xiaoqian Xu ,&nbsp;Tingting Jia ,&nbsp;Jiaji Cheng","doi":"10.1016/j.smaim.2026.01.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smaim.2026.01.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chirality is a fundamental property in nature, and the rapid progress of nanoscience has enabled the design and fabrication of nanoscale materials with precisely controlled chiral architectures. These chiral nanostructures exhibit unique optical, catalytic, and sensing characteristics. Among them, chiral noble-metal nanomaterials owing to their intrinsic localized surface plasmon resonance, catalytic activity, and biocompatibility, show tremendous application potential in the biomedical field. This review provides a comprehensive overview of chiral noble-metal nanomaterials. We first summarize their chiroptical properties and discuss the structural origins of chirality at the molecular, nanoscale, and nano-/micro-size. We then highlight biomedical applications, including biosensing, enantioselective separation, antibacterial applications, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer diagnosis and therapy. Finally, we discuss the key challenges that must be addressed, including the precise and reproducible fabrication of chiral nanostructures, unresolved biosafety concerns, and an incomplete mechanistic understanding at the molecular and cellular levels. We anticipate that, by overcoming these challenges, chiral noble-metal nanomaterials will assume increasingly impactful roles in biomedicine.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22019,"journal":{"name":"Smart Materials in Medicine","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 59-76"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146173658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Smart DNA nanocages mitigate oxidative stress and guide bone immune microenvironment for osteoporotic jawbone regeneration","authors":"Shebin Hong ,&nbsp;Ya Cui ,&nbsp;Weidong Jiang ,&nbsp;Hao Wu ,&nbsp;Cancan Zhao ,&nbsp;Weihong Xi ,&nbsp;Xudong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.smaim.2025.12.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smaim.2025.12.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Jawbone regeneration in osteoporotic patients remains a formidable challenge due to excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), dysregulated bone immunity, and compromised osteogenic capacity. While nanomaterial-based modulation of the bone microenvironment has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy, most current biomaterial-based approaches target only one or two aspects of this multifaceted pathology. In this study, we developed tetrahedral DNA nanocages (TDN), which exhibit notable advantages including high biocompatibility, efficient cellular internalization, and multifaceted bioactivities that concurrently address key pathological processes in osteoporotic bone defects. Our findings demonstrate that TDN effectively scavenges intracellular ROS induced by LPS, restores mitochondrial membrane potential, and attenuates oxidative stress. Additionally, TDN promotes macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype and suppresses the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting the TNF-α/NF-κB pathway, thereby modulating immune balance. Furthermore, TDN was shown to promote the proliferation, migration, and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells from osteoporotic rats (OVX-BMSCs), while inhibiting their adipogenic differentiation. In vivo experiments demonstrated that TDN delivered via gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel scaffolds significantly enhanced regeneration in critical-sized mandibular defects in an osteoporotic model. In summary, this study reveals the multifaceted functions of TDN in alleviating oxidative stress, modulating immune homeostasis, and promoting osteogenesis within the challenging osteoporotic microenvironment, thereby offering a promising and translatable strategy for craniofacial bone regeneration in osteoporosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22019,"journal":{"name":"Smart Materials in Medicine","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 44-58"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146173659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Harnessing extracellular matrix hydrogel for synergistic neurorehabilitation in traumatic brain injury","authors":"Ying Zhang ,&nbsp;Meixian Jin ,&nbsp;Liqin Chen ,&nbsp;Yingqi Zhou ,&nbsp;Kexin Wang ,&nbsp;Xucheng Li ,&nbsp;Li Zhang ,&nbsp;Songxia Zhou ,&nbsp;Xiuli Zhong ,&nbsp;Xiaojuan Zhu ,&nbsp;Qing Peng ,&nbsp;Zhaoting Li ,&nbsp;Shuqin Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.smaim.2026.05.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smaim.2026.05.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is characterized by neuronal loss, vascular disruption, and limited regenerative capacity, further exacerbated by the absence of a supportive extracellular matrix (ECM) within lesion cavities. Here, an injectable, photo-crosslinkable ECM-based hydrogel (ECMMA/BDNF/SCS) is developed to remodel the post-injury microenvironment and promote neural repair. The hydrogel is derived from decellularized porcine ECM modified with methacrylate groups and incorporated with sulfonated chitosan (SCS) and mesoporous silica nanoparticles for sustained delivery of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).</div><div>The ECMMA/BDNF/SCS hydrogel exhibits tunable mechanical properties matching native brain tissue and enables controlled BDNF release. In vitro, it shows good biocompatibility, promotes endothelial cell migration and tube formation, and directs neural stem cell differentiation toward neuronal lineage, as indicated by increased β-III Tubulin (Tuj1) and decreased GFAP expression. In a rat TBI model, hydrogel implantation reduces lesion volume, enhances vascularization and neurogenesis, and improves sensorimotor and cognitive function.</div><div>At the molecular level, these effects are associated with reduced neuronal apoptosis and modulation of PI3K/ERK and STAT3 signaling pathways. Overall, this multifunctional ECM-based hydrogel provides structural and biochemical cues to facilitate neurovascular regeneration, highlighting its potential for TBI therapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22019,"journal":{"name":"Smart Materials in Medicine","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 272-286"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148230580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gastrodin-encapsulated injectable hyaluronic acid hydrogel promotes volumetric muscle loss repair via myogenesis","authors":"Jie Men ,&nbsp;Qianru Guo ,&nbsp;Junfeng Cao ,&nbsp;Jinyu Yu ,&nbsp;Lianghao Jia ,&nbsp;Yufei Yong ,&nbsp;Tao Xiang ,&nbsp;Kezhou Li","doi":"10.1016/j.smaim.2026.05.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smaim.2026.05.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Volumetric muscle loss (VML) induces irreversible functional impairment, characterized by extensive loss of muscle mass and failure of endogenous regenerative mechanisms. Current tissue engineering strategies are often limited by inadequate mechanical integration with native tissue and an inability to counteract the hostile microenvironment, thereby hindering effective myogenesis. Herein, we developed a multifunctional hyaluronic acid hydrogel (HPAu@Gas) based on <em>in situ</em> Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction, which incorporates the bioactive molecule Gastrodin (Gas). The hydrogel exhibits excellent adaptability to irregular defects and enables sustained local delivery of Gas. Transcriptomic sequencing and molecular analyses suggested that Gas promoted myoblast activity partly through chemokine-related signaling and subsequent activation of the JAK-STAT cascade <em>in vitro</em>. This signaling axis enhances myoblast survival, proliferation, and migration, thereby counteracting the hostile microenvironment characteristic of VML. In rat tibialis anterior VML model, HPAu@Gas markedly improved hindlimb grip strength at day 14, reaching 1.14 N compared with 0.65 N in the untreated VML group and approaching the uninjured level of 1.19 N. Histologically, HPAu@Gas increased regenerated muscle fiber area to 70.8% and reduced fibrotic area to 12.1% at day 14. EMG analysis further showed substantial restoration of electrophysiological activity. These results validate the injectable self-healing hydrogels as novel scaffolds for VML treatment and skeletal muscle regeneration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22019,"journal":{"name":"Smart Materials in Medicine","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 287-300"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148230581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Harnessing the foreign body response to fabricate tissue engineered vascular grafts in vivo: Progresses in biotube preparation and application","authors":"Jiayao Zheng ,&nbsp;Shuhan Cheng ,&nbsp;Su Zhang ,&nbsp;Quhan Cheng ,&nbsp;Lijie Huang ,&nbsp;Yamin Liu ,&nbsp;Jiarui Ning ,&nbsp;Adam C. Midgley ,&nbsp;Pei Wang ,&nbsp;Deling Kong ,&nbsp;Muhammad Shafiq ,&nbsp;Qining Fu ,&nbsp;Xianhui Liang ,&nbsp;Kai Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.smaim.2026.03.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smaim.2026.03.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is a great demand for small-diameter vascular grafts in clinical practice, particularly for the treatment of cardiovascular disease and hemodialysis access. Compared with synthetic vascular grafts made from synthetic materials such as Dacron or polytetrafluoroethylene, tissue engineered vascular grafts better meet with the critical requirements of the vascular grafts. While several methods can be adopted for the fabrication of tissue engineered vascular grafts, the <em>in vivo</em> approach holds great promise. <em>In vivo</em> tissue engineered vascular grafts involve utilizing the foreign body response of the patient's body to biomaterials, the completely autologous tissues generated through this process are also called biotubes. Recent studies have developed a series of strategies to construct <em>in vivo</em> tissue engineered vascular grafts from the aspects of surface modification of implants, structural design of molds, and <em>in situ</em> physical stimulation. Consequently, these studies and clinical trials showed that <em>in vivo</em> tissue engineered vascular grafts had significant clinical application potential and great advantages in vascular endothelial cells and functional smooth muscle regeneration, along with biocompatibility, procedural feasibility and low costs. This review aims to provide critical insights into the latest advancements in the strategies for <em>in vivo</em> tissue engineered vascular grafts production, as well as to elucidate challenges and prospects for the clinical translation of these vascular grafts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22019,"journal":{"name":"Smart Materials in Medicine","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 312-330"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148285173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"4D-printed auxetic biomaterials for adaptive and functional bone implants","authors":"Shafahat Ali ,&nbsp;Mamoun Alshihabi ,&nbsp;Said Abdallah ,&nbsp;Ali Zolfagharian ,&nbsp;Ibrahim Deiab","doi":"10.1016/j.smaim.2026.04.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smaim.2026.04.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mechanical compatibility, biological integration, and patient-specific adaptability are becoming key factors driving the development of bone implants. Additive manufacturing (AM) has emerged as a transformative manufacturing model that enables the precise fabrication of complex, hierarchical, and nature-inspired architectures, offering exceptional control over geometry, porosity, and mechanical performance. These structures have a strong similarity to the categorized structure of the natural bone. The critical review focuses on the potential of auxetic structures, which have a negative Poisson ratio, to improve the mechanical performance of bone implants. Auxetic architecture enhances interfacial stability, stress distribution, energy absorption, stress shielding, and stress concentration, which are not achieved by conventional designs. The advantages facilitate the process of osseointegration and enhance the performance of implants in the long term. Four-dimensional (4D) printing brings a new dimension of functionality with time-dependent shape adaptation and stimulus-responsive behavior. The combination of negative Poisson ratio geometries and 4D printing produces mechanically adaptable patient-specific implants. These implants can counteract physiological loads and environmental alterations once implanted. This article critically assesses the different material classes for auxetic implant 4D printing, such as metals, polymers, ceramics, composites, hydrogels, and bio-inks. Emerging directions such as AI-assisted design and smart, bioactive implant systems are also discussed. By bridging structural mechanics, advanced manufacturing, and clinical requirements, this review provides a comprehensive framework for designing next-generation adaptive and functional auxetic bone implants, advancing personalized and regenerative orthopedic solutions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22019,"journal":{"name":"Smart Materials in Medicine","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 331-380"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148285235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}