BiomaterialsPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-08-06DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123604
Xuan Li, Xinxin Luo, Ye He, Bikun Zhou, Kun Xu, Qian Huang, Xiao Jiang, Hongwei Xiong, Xuezhe Liu, Shaopeng Liu, Bailong Tao, Peng Liu, Kaiyong Cai
{"title":"Enhanced osteointegration of implants in aged rats via a stem cell pool aging reversion strategy.","authors":"Xuan Li, Xinxin Luo, Ye He, Bikun Zhou, Kun Xu, Qian Huang, Xiao Jiang, Hongwei Xiong, Xuezhe Liu, Shaopeng Liu, Bailong Tao, Peng Liu, Kaiyong Cai","doi":"10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123604","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123604","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The senescence of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) leads to the significant change of their metabolic activity and physiological behaviors. In the context of orthopedic treatment, the osteointegration of titanium implant is largely affected by MSC aging, imposing considerable limitations on its long-term application. In this study, a surface modification on titanium implants was designed to enhance osteointegration by effectively regulating the functions of senescent MSC: A typical micro-nano topological structure was established on the implant surface to improve the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. Then a functional hydrogel coating was covalently modified to the implant surface through a poly-dopamine layer. For senescent MSCs, firstly, the coating can eliminate the activation of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) of senescent MSCs by micro-nano topological structure, and it accelerated the proliferation of non-senescent MSCs by the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging. With the degradation of the hydrogel coating, the composition of stem cell pool around the implant interfaces gradually rejuvenated, as the number of non-senescent MSCs increased and senescent MSCs decreased. Meanwhile, the exposed micro-nano topological structure showed significant effect on the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, and ultimately promoted the osteointegration in aging rats. These results provided promising insights for the design and application of orthopedic titanium implants for aging patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":254,"journal":{"name":"Biomaterials","volume":"325 ","pages":"123604"},"PeriodicalIF":12.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144803048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomaterialsPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123602
Ming Li, Shengzhe Zhou, Qiang Yu, Chenxi Wang, Haoyi Chen, Yingying Ma, Huizhen Fan, Tao Ni, Min Lu, Min Yao
{"title":"A sprayable TQ/Ce6@SAB/F-gel for accelerating wound healing via hypoxia-tolerant photodynamic therapy and immune-metabolic pathway.","authors":"Ming Li, Shengzhe Zhou, Qiang Yu, Chenxi Wang, Haoyi Chen, Yingying Ma, Huizhen Fan, Tao Ni, Min Lu, Min Yao","doi":"10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123602","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123602","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic diabetic wounds are characterized by hypoxia, persistent microbial infection, and impaired healing, posing significant challenges to conventional therapies. Herein, we present a novel sprayable double-network hydrogel platform designed to achieve efficient antimicrobial activity and accelerated wound repair under hypoxic conditions by leveraging a type I photodynamic therapy (PDT) and immune-metabolic regulatory strategy. Specifically, we employ salvianolic acid B (SAB) to form a self-assembled hydrogel (SAB-gel) and incorporate fibrin to construct a robust and acidic double-network SAB/F-gel with enhanced mechanical strength and acidic environment. Concurrently, thymoquinone (TQ) and chlorin e6 (Ce6) are self-assembled via hydrophobic interactions to form TQ/Ce6 nanoparticles (TQ/Ce6 NPs) and embedded in the SAB/F-gel, to fabricate the TQ/Ce6@SAB/F-gel. Under low-oxygen conditions, TQ acts as an electron-transfer mediator, enabling Ce6 to generate abundant superoxide anions (·O<sub>2</sub><sup>-</sup>) via type I PDT under red light (RL) irradiation. These ·O<sub>2</sub><sup>-</sup> are subsequently converted into hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) and hydroxyl radicals (·OH) in the acidic environment provided by acidic SAB/F-gel, thereby reducing the dependence on oxygen and maintaining potent antimicrobial efficacy against MRSA, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa), Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Candida albicans (Ca). In vitro experiments demonstrated that TQ/Ce6@SAB/F-gel regulates macrophage M2 polarization and promotes endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation via the immune-metabolic regulatory pathways. When applied to MRSA-infected diabetic wounds in mice, the hydrogel in combination with RL completely eradicated bacteria, promoted collagen deposition and angiogenesis, and significantly accelerated wound closure, as demonstrated by histological examination and transcriptome sequencing. This work offers a versatile, biocompatible, and oxygen-independent PDT-based hydrogel system for the treatment of refractory infected diabetic wounds, offering potential for clinical translation and improved patient outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":254,"journal":{"name":"Biomaterials","volume":"325 ","pages":"123602"},"PeriodicalIF":12.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144811478","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomaterialsPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123595
Yixin Liu, Xinjian Yang, Ya Miao, Taoping Chen, Wenyan Gao, Guoqiang Zhou, Guang Jia, Xiaosong Yang, Jinchao Zhang, Yi Jin
{"title":"Self-supported DNA hydrogel facilitates microenvironment remodeling and cartilage repair to prevent osteoarthritis progression via an ambidextrous strategy.","authors":"Yixin Liu, Xinjian Yang, Ya Miao, Taoping Chen, Wenyan Gao, Guoqiang Zhou, Guang Jia, Xiaosong Yang, Jinchao Zhang, Yi Jin","doi":"10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123595","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123595","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Osteoarthritis (OA), a prevalent degenerative joint disease, currently lacks effective therapeutic options beyond symptomatic relief. Persistent inflammation and impaired cartilage repair accelerate the disease progression. The enzyme inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) contributes to OA by producing nitric oxide (NO), which intensifies inflammation and inhibits cartilage regeneration. Traditional iNOS inhibitors have demonstrated limited efficacy due to inadequate targeted release and uncoordinated control over inflammation. In this study, we developed a self-supported DNAzyme-based DNA hydrogel using rolling circle amplification (RCA) technology to deliver iNOS-targeting DNAzymes and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (BMSC-exos) in response to inflammation. The hydrogel incorporates triglycerol monostearate nanoparticles (TGMS NPs), which degrade under high matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) levels in OA joints, thereby triggering the release of the DNAzymes and exosomes with precision. This targeted delivery modulates the inflammatory microenvironment by reducing pro-inflammatory NO production and supports chondrogenesis by promoting M2 macrophage polarization. In vitro and in vivo analyses reveal that the hydrogel significantly reduces inflammatory cytokine levels, enhances chondrocyte proliferation, and restores extracellular matrix integrity, ultimately slowing OA progression. This smart hydrogel offers a promising ambidextrous strategy for microenvironment modulation and cartilage regeneration, potentially advancing OA treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":254,"journal":{"name":"Biomaterials","volume":"325 ","pages":"123595"},"PeriodicalIF":12.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144803049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Co-delivery of CO/H<sub>2</sub> gases for synergistic radiosensitization and intestinal protection in peritoneal metastases therapy.","authors":"Junna Lu, Yidan Zhang, Xin Zhao, Yu Ding, Fanshu Ma, Xiaochun Xie, Quanxin Ning, Hui Fang, Ziping Wu, Huayi Sun, Fangman Chen, Zheng Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123796","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123796","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The combination of radiosensitizing carbon monoxide (CO) and radioprotective hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) holds significant potential in whole abdominal radiotherapy for the treatment of peritoneal metastases of colon cancer. However, the concurrent and controlled release of dual gases poses substantial challenges because of their inherently unstable and uncoordinated release profiles. Here, we develop a novel dual gas nanosystem by encapsulating unstable iron carbonyl (FeCO) and ammonium borane (AB) within a stable silica matrix, enabling the on-demand release of CO and H<sub>2</sub>. This dual-gas nanosystem prevents premature release in acidic gastric environments and enables the sustained release (>50 h) of H<sub>2</sub> in the intestinal tract, effectively providing protection against radiotherapy-induced intestinal injury. Notably, upon X-ray irradiation of the tumor site, the nanosystem rapidly releases CO to increase radiosensitivity while concurrently releasing H<sub>2</sub> to repair radiation-induced intestinal damage. This spatiotemporal control over the release of CO and H<sub>2</sub> offers a promising therapeutic strategy for efficiently treating peritoneal metastases while reducing the adverse effects associated with radiation therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":254,"journal":{"name":"Biomaterials","volume":"327 ","pages":"123796"},"PeriodicalIF":12.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145353194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomaterialsPub Date : 2025-10-16DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123791
Zuwei Liu , Lei Feng , Qin Huang , Xinjian Lu, Huan Liu, Hao Wan
{"title":"Hierarchical arming of probiotics for improved viability to synergistically alleviate ulcerative colitis","authors":"Zuwei Liu , Lei Feng , Qin Huang , Xinjian Lu, Huan Liu, Hao Wan","doi":"10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123791","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123791","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Oral intake of probiotics has potential benefits for alleviating ulcerative colitis (UC); however, the challenging environments (e.g., gastric acid and bile salts) in the gastrointestinal tract hinder their effectiveness. Additionally, the instability of probiotics during processing and storage hinders their practical application. To address this issue, protective strategies, including single-cell coating and microencapsulation, have been recently proposed. However, the protective efficacy requires further improvement to maximize the oral therapeutic benefits of probiotics. Herein, we integrated single-cell coating of β-glucan (GN) with soy protein isolate (SPI)-based microencapsulation to achieve hierarchical arming of the probiotic <em>Lactobacillus reuteri</em> (<em>Lr</em>). After oral administration, the hierarchical arming (<em>Lr</em>@GN@SPI) comprising GN coating and a three-dimensional SPI network effectively shielded the inner <em>Lr</em> from direct contact with the gastrointestinal environment during transit, significantly enhancing their viability, which outperformed those achieved by either single-cell coating or microencapsulation. In the intestine, SPI was progressively degraded by trypsin, whereas the gut microbiota metabolized GN into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), collectively resulting in the controlled release of <em>Lr</em>. This triggered a synergistic effect between living <em>Lr</em> and SCFAs in the treatment of UC. Consequently, oral administration of <em>Lr</em>@GN@SPI effectively alleviated UC in both therapeutic and preventive mouse models by reversing intestinal mucosal integrity, modulating the inflammatory response, and rebalancing the gut microbiota. In conclusion, our strategy, which utilizes food-grade substrates, offers valuable insight into the protection of probiotics and provides a promising approach for managing gut health-related diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":254,"journal":{"name":"Biomaterials","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 123791"},"PeriodicalIF":12.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145328010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomaterialsPub Date : 2025-10-15DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123792
Congling Wang , Jingnan Wang , Kaiheng Zhao , Yanyang Long , Fangjia Pan , Yuxin Zhang , Seyed Dariush Taherzade , Xi Wang , Qunhong Weng
{"title":"Skin-permeable FeSA-BN nanozyme for efficient transdermal inhibition and immunotherapy of melanoma","authors":"Congling Wang , Jingnan Wang , Kaiheng Zhao , Yanyang Long , Fangjia Pan , Yuxin Zhang , Seyed Dariush Taherzade , Xi Wang , Qunhong Weng","doi":"10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123792","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123792","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Classical Mohs surgery and chemotherapy for metastatic melanoma treatment face limitations due to low efficacy and systemic toxicity, as they do not effectively exploit the tumor's superficial nature. We propose an iron single-atom-loaded boron nitride (FeSA-BN) nanozyme for non-invasive transdermal treatment of melanoma. The FeSA-BN features Fe–N<sub>3</sub> coordination via iron atoms anchored at boron vacancies, which enhance endogenous hydrogen peroxide conversion into hydroxyl radicals for potent antitumor activity. With an average size of only ∼8 nm, the FeSA-BN nanozymes enable efficient transdermal delivery, achieving a remarkable 93 % suppression rate of B16F10 melanoma. Additionally, they triggered robust immunity against both primary and distant tumors. This transdermal delivery approach combines high therapeutic efficacy with minimal invasiveness, circumventing systemic side effects by leveraging melanoma's accessible location. This work provides a non-invasive strategy by integrating localized nanozymatic treatment and immune activation, offering a safer, effective alternative to conventional melanoma treatments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":254,"journal":{"name":"Biomaterials","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 123792"},"PeriodicalIF":12.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145333537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomaterialsPub Date : 2025-10-14DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123789
Seong-Jong Kim, Tae Yeon Kim, John A Rogers, Kam W Leong, Sei Kwang Hahn
{"title":"Biomaterials innovations and challenges for wearable bioelectronic devices.","authors":"Seong-Jong Kim, Tae Yeon Kim, John A Rogers, Kam W Leong, Sei Kwang Hahn","doi":"10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123789","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123789","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":254,"journal":{"name":"Biomaterials","volume":" ","pages":"123789"},"PeriodicalIF":12.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145311961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomaterialsPub Date : 2025-10-14DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123790
Guliyaer Aini , Jianmei Ren , Haojie Xu , Yang Gao , Tiantian Li , Lang Ma , Li Qiu , Evgeniya Sheremet , Shuang Li , Chong Cheng , Tian Ma , Changsheng Zhao
{"title":"Antioxidase-mimetic artificial biotubes for anti-inflammatory healing and regeneration of vascular injury","authors":"Guliyaer Aini , Jianmei Ren , Haojie Xu , Yang Gao , Tiantian Li , Lang Ma , Li Qiu , Evgeniya Sheremet , Shuang Li , Chong Cheng , Tian Ma , Changsheng Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123790","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123790","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Inflammation is a major obstacle to endothelialization, which is essential to the long-term functionality of cardiovascular implants. Developing efficient antioxidant and inflammation-modulating biotubes for endothelial repair with minimal postsurgical complications represents a compelling clinical challenge. Here, we present the design of an antioxidase-mimic modified artificial biotube (RNP) by integrating Ru cluster-anchored Ni-based metal-organic framework onto a polycaprolactone fiber scaffold. This biotube acts as a biocatalytic reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger, modulating the postsurgical microenvironment to suppress the inflammatory cascades and prevent postoperative adhesions efficiently. Our studies reveal that the Ni–O–Ru interface regulates the electronic structure of the Ru active site with rapid charge transfer and enhances the ROS elimination capacity of RNP. These features enable the engineered biotube to mitigate ROS-induced endothelial cell death, promote a regenerative microenvironment, and stimulate vascular regeneration. Consequently, this leads to a robust reparative effect on rat injured arteries. These findings highlight the biocatalytic properties of RNP, offering a promising strategy for developing ROS-scavenging and anti-inflammatory biotubes for vascular repair and the treatment of various oxidative stress-related diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":254,"journal":{"name":"Biomaterials","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 123790"},"PeriodicalIF":12.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145333944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomaterialsPub Date : 2025-10-13DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123781
Rui Wang , Jianpeng Zhou , Xin Li , Ding Xiong , Dingming Huang , Yu Shi , Zhenming Wang , Ling Ye
{"title":"Chaotropic ion-tuned protein/peptide hydrogel with enhanced trans-barrier delivery for effective periodontitis management via pathogen clearance, immunomodulation, and MSC preservation","authors":"Rui Wang , Jianpeng Zhou , Xin Li , Ding Xiong , Dingming Huang , Yu Shi , Zhenming Wang , Ling Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123781","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123781","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Periodontitis increases the risk of tooth loss and systemic comorbidities, with anatomical challenges, particularly in narrow periodontal pockets and furcation regions, necessitating advanced drug delivery systems. The keystone pathogen, <em>Porphyromonas gingivalis,</em> exacerbates disease progression by invading epithelial cells and evading intracellular immune responses. Current hydrogel delivery systems do not adequately address <em>trans</em>-barrier drug delivery and intracellular bacterial clearance. Leveraging the membrane-permeabilizing capacity of chaotropic anions, we engineered an iodide-functionalized gelatin/poly-L-lysine hydrogel (GPI). This system demonstrated enhanced injectability for sufficient pocket infiltration and robust mucosal adhesion. High-concentration iodide (5–10 mM) released at mucosal interfaces potentiates PLL <em>trans</em>-epithelial delivery via membrane fluidization, promoting intracellular <em>P. gingivalis</em> clearance. Diffused therapeutic iodide concentrations (0.5–1.0 mM) concurrently suppress proinflammatory cytokines and enhance osteogenesis. In rat periodontitis models, micro-CT confirms GPI30 reduces alveolar bone loss. A transgenic mouse model of Gli1<sup>−</sup>creERT2; tdTomato mice demonstrated sodium iodide-mediated preservation of Gli1<sup>+</sup> mesenchymal stem cell reservoirs in periodontitis. This multifunctional platform leverages chaotropic ion effects to significantly enhance transmembrane delivery of antimicrobial peptides, enabling synergistic intracellular pathogen clearance while concurrently achieving immunomodulation, osteogenesis, and MSC preservation, thereby advancing precision hydrogel therapeutics for periodontitis management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":254,"journal":{"name":"Biomaterials","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 123781"},"PeriodicalIF":12.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145333994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomaterialsPub Date : 2025-10-13DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123778
Edwin Wong, Katya A D'Costa, Eric M Strohm, Yizhou Chen, Neda Latifi, Nataly Machado Siqueira, Michael C Kolios, J Paul Santerre, Craig A Simmons
{"title":"A high frequency ultrasound-based platform to non-destructively quantify geometric, acoustic and mechanical properties of thin, engineered soft connective tissues in vitro.","authors":"Edwin Wong, Katya A D'Costa, Eric M Strohm, Yizhou Chen, Neda Latifi, Nataly Machado Siqueira, Michael C Kolios, J Paul Santerre, Craig A Simmons","doi":"10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123778","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123778","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Assessment of temporal changes in the functional properties of in vitro tissue engineered (TE) constructs is typically done by destructive endpoint analysis, which increases experimental resources, analysis time, and financial burden. To overcome the limitations of existing practices, a novel Modular High Frequency Ultrasound Bulge Testing System (mHFUS-BTS) was designed to perform repeated, non-destructive and non-invasive characterization of cell-seeded biomaterial sheets throughout culture. Quantitative HFUS was validated to accurately measure the acoustic properties (i.e., speed of sound, acoustic impedance) to determine the physical properties (thickness and density) of TE-relevant polymeric scaffolds mounted inside a modified 6-well plate (<2 % mean error for all parameters). Components were interchanged to enable in situ bulge testing to estimate samples' Young's modulus (estimations <5 % mean error). Over an 18-day culture period, the mHFUS-BTS successfully monitored the thickening and softening of cell-seeded electrospun polyurethane polycarbonate scaffolds due to tissue synthesis while cell-free constructs experienced insignificant changes. Sterility was maintained throughout culture, with no effect of HFUS on cell viability or tissue composition compared to non-tested samples. These results demonstrate the mHFUS-BTS can repeatedly assess the physical, acoustic and mechanical properties of engineered tissues in vitro without influencing cell viability or tissue formation.</p>","PeriodicalId":254,"journal":{"name":"Biomaterials","volume":"327 ","pages":"123778"},"PeriodicalIF":12.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145353183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}