Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Curing-state-dependent rheology governs electrospinning of silicone elastomers for hydrophobic surface coatings","authors":"Jan F. Drexler,&nbsp;Yan Zhang,&nbsp;Florian Rummel,&nbsp;Gesine Hentschel,&nbsp;Tom Bode,&nbsp;Marc Mueller,&nbsp;Gerrit Paasche,&nbsp;Birgit Glasmacher","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07125-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07125-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Fibrosis around cochlear implant electrode arrays increases impedance and disrupts predictable stimulus propagation. Electrospun hydrophobic silicone coatings represent a promising strategy to mitigate fibrosis. However, electrospinning silicone elastomers remains challenging because their low glass transition temperature causes deposited fibers to collapse before curing is complete. Previous approaches have focused on developing in situ curing systems, such as heated collectors. Although fiber-like structures have been generated, nonwovens with interconnected pores have not yet been achieved. A pre-curing-based electrospinning strategy was developed that enables the fabrication of pure silicone elastomer nonwovens without the need for polymer blends, sacrificial carrier polymers, or coaxial spinnerets. Sylgard 184 dilutions in acetone and tetrahydrofuran were electrospun at different pre-curing times prior to gelation and characterized rheologically to investigate the influence of curing-induced rheological evolution on electrospinnability. Initially, the dilutions exhibited near-Newtonian flow behavior. Shortly before loss of flowability, the maximum first normal stress difference increased to 3228 Pa for acetone- and 6722 Pa for tetrahydrofuran-based systems, accompanied by increased storage modulus and more pronounced shear-thinning behavior. This rheological transition coincided with the transition from electrospraying to electrospinning. By controlling the curing time, nonwoven structures with well-defined fiber geometry and interconnected pores were successfully fabricated from Sylgard/tetrahydrofuran systems. Fiber diameters ranging from 21 µm to 136 µm were achieved by adjusting the diluent and curing time. These findings demonstrate that precise control of rheological evolution during curing enables the fabrication of structurally defined electrospun silicone elastomer nonwovens, providing a foundation for anti-fibrotic coatings on cochlear implants.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10856-026-07125-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149338146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Catechol-based polydopamine modification of a dentin adhesive: effects on surface wettability, microhardness recovery, and mineral deposition","authors":"Lamia Singer,&nbsp;Marcia Borba,&nbsp;Kiho Cho,&nbsp;Negar Mahmoudi Meimand,&nbsp;Nickolaos Silikas,&nbsp;Christian Kirschneck","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07132-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07132-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study aimed to evaluate the influence of polydopamine (PDA), a bioinspired catecholamine polymer, on the functional performance of a commercial etch-and-rinse dentin adhesive when incorporated at 2% and 4% (v/v). Although PDA has demonstrated promising biomimetic and mineralisation-promoting properties in various biomedical and dental applications, its effects on the physicochemical performance of commercial etch-and-rinse dentin adhesives have not been comprehensively investigated. The study, therefore, focused on the effects of PDA incorporation on degree of conversion, pH, hydrophilicity, microhardness recovery, and mineral deposition potential. PDA was synthesised via self-polymerisation in Tris buffer (pH 8.5) and incorporated into Prime &amp; Bond Elect adhesive at 2% and 4% (v/v). The degree of conversion was analysed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy before and after light-curing. Hydrophilicity was assessed via contact angle measurements of adhesive droplets on acid-etched bovine dentin surfaces at 2 and 5 s. Microhardness was evaluated on demineralized dentin at baseline, after bonding, and following 7-day ageing in artificial saliva. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to qualitatively assess surface morphology and mineral-like deposition on deeply demineralised dentin after 14 days. pH values were measured using a microelectrode pH meter. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA with a significance level of <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05. The results showed that PDA incorporation did not affect polymerisation, with comparable degrees of conversion values among all groups (<i>p</i> = 0.984), and adhesive pH remained unchanged. Dentin hydrophilicity improved with PDA modification; at 5 s, contact angles decreased from 38.1 ± 4.7° (control) to 29.8 ± 1.7° (2% PDA) and 22.5 ± 3.6° (4% PDA), demonstrating a concentration-dependent increase in wettability. Microhardness decreased after etching in all groups (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), followed by partial recovery in the PDA-modified groups after ageing in artificial saliva. SEM revealed minimal surface deposition in the control, moderate mineral-like deposits in the 2% PDA group, and more extensive mineral-like surface deposition in the 4% PDA group. EDX confirmed the presence of calcium and phosphorus within the deposits, supporting their calcium phosphate-containing nature. It was found that incorporation of PDA, particularly at 4%, enhanced dentin surface hydrophilicity, promoted calcium phosphate-containing surface deposition, and improved microhardness recovery. Polymerisation efficiency and adhesive acidity were not adversely affected. These findings suggest that PDA is a promising biomimetic modifier for commercial dentin adhesives. However, further bond strength, long-term ageing, and clinical studies are needed to confirm its clinical potential.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10856-026-07132-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149316877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction to: Thermal annealed silk fibroin membranes for periodontal guided tissue regeneration","authors":"Catarina Geão,&nbsp;Ana R. Costa-Pinto,&nbsp;Cassilda Cunha-Reis,&nbsp;Viviana P. Ribeiro,&nbsp;Sílvia Vieira,&nbsp;Joaquim M. Oliveira,&nbsp;Rui L. Reis,&nbsp;Ana L. Oliveira","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07115-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07115-1","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13627238/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149102664","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Aloe vera integrated ZnO/SWCNT/Ag nanocomposites for accelerated wound repair and scar reduction","authors":"Mariam H. Omran,&nbsp;Mohamed Abd Elkodous,&nbsp;Hossam Tohamy,&nbsp;Nourhan G. Naga,&nbsp;Jihad El-Qassas,&nbsp;Samir Nouh,&nbsp;Mahmoud El-Kammar,&nbsp;Howaida Abu-Ahmed,&nbsp;Hoda Elkhenany","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07109-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07109-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>For centuries, natural extracts such as Aloe vera have been used in wound care due to their soothing, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties. However, their clinical efficacy can be limited by instability, low bioavailability, and restricted antimicrobial potency. Nanotechnology offers promising strategies to enhance and complement the therapeutic benefits of herbal extracts. In this study, we investigated the wound-healing potential of Aloe vera gel combined with ZnO/SWCNT/Ag (zinc oxide-single-walled carbon nanotubes-silver nanoparticles) nanocomposite. Forty full-thickness excisional wounds (15 mm) were created on the dorsum of 20 Sprague Dawley rats and divided into four treatment groups: ZnO/SWCNT/Ag alone (1 mg/mL), Aloe vera gel (30 mg/mL), the combination of Aloe vera gel with the NPs, and control (saline 0.9%). Wound areas were tracked at days 0, 3, 10, 15, and 21 using calibrated imaging, and skin samples were harvested for histopathological analysis. The ZnO/SWCNT/Ag nanocomposite alone accelerated wound closure compared to Aloe vera and saline control, while combining Aloe vera with the nanocomposite improved wound healing compared to Aloe vera alone at day 10 (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Although wound closure was similar across all groups by day 21, nanoparticle-treated wounds showed less variability and more uniform healing. Scar area analysis revealed significant reductions for ZnO/SWCNT/Ag based treatment and the combination compared to Aloe vera (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), whereas differences versus saline control were not statistically significant. Additionally, the formulations demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and enhanced antioxidant properties. These findings suggest that ZnO/SWCNT/Ag nanoparticles may serve as a supportive platform to enhance the wound-healing behaviour of Aloe vera.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13451231/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148682977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chitosan-based nano-encapsulation enhances the anti-diabetic efficacy of Eremina desertorum extract by ameliorating hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and inflammation in diabetic rats","authors":"Sahar Fakhry,&nbsp;Salwa Fouad,&nbsp;Alyaa Farid","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07042-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07042-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study developed a novel <i>Eremina desertorum</i> snail extract (Ere extract) loaded-chitosan nanoparticles (Ere-CS NPs) to enhance the anti-diabetic efficacy of <i>Eremina desertorum</i> snail extract. The nanoparticles, synthesized via ionic gelation, were spherical (~80 nm) and exhibited storage stability when lyophilized, with consistent physicochemical properties upon reconstitution over a 90-day period, high encapsulation efficiency (73.56%) and a sustained, pH-dependent release profile. Biochemical analysis confirmed the successful loading of the extract’s rich profile of amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins. In vitro, Ere-CS NPs demonstrated significantly superior antioxidant (scavenging DPPH, H₂O₂, OH^-, O₂⁻), anti-inflammatory (inhibiting erythrocyte hemolysis), and antimicrobial activities compared to the free extract and blank nanoparticles, alongside high biocompatibility. In a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model, an 8-week oral treatment with Ere-CS NPs (100 and 200 mg/kg) produced a potent, dose-dependent anti-diabetic effect, outperforming the unencapsulated extract. The nano-formulation effectively normalized hyperglycemia, hypoinsulinemia, and body weight, and reduced serum fructosamine. It also provided significant hepatorenal protection, corrected diabetic dyslipidemia by normalizing hepatic and serum triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-C, and HDL-C, and markedly alleviated pancreatic oxidative stress by reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) and restoring superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities. Concurrently, Ere-CS NPs potently suppressed pancreatic levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6). These findings demonstrate that chitosan nano-encapsulation robustly enhances the bioavailability and multi-targeted therapeutic potential of <i>Eremina desertorum</i> extract, positioning Ere-CS NPs as a promising comprehensive nanomedicine for managing diabetes and its complications.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10856-026-07042-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148986332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preparation of TiO2 nanofillers-loaded Injectable Hydrogel functionalized with ADSCs-exosomes for bone defect repair by triggering the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in vitro","authors":"Yi-wen Xu,&nbsp;Yi-ming Zhang,&nbsp;Hai-xia Liu,&nbsp;Hang Yuan,&nbsp;Nian Zhou,&nbsp;Jin-cheng Zhang,&nbsp;Yuan-zhi Xu","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07093-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07093-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Bone regeneration and self-repair of bone are highly challenging without surgical interventions. Currently, chitosan-based injectable hydrogels have gotten great attention in bone tissue engineering due to their biodegradability, cytocompatibility, cell adhesion, and proliferation. To improve the strength and mechanical properties of scaffolds, metal oxide nanoparticles were incorporated into a hydrogel matrix to develop a new scaffold for bone regeneration. In this work, TiO₂ nanorods were prepared using the hydrothermal method and then loaded with exosomes, which were then incorporated into chitosan hydrogel. Injectable hydrogel scaffolds were obtained by free radical polymerization of biocompatible monomers such as chitosan, acrylamide, and itaconic acid, and TiO₂ NRs were loaded, which improves the mechanical properties of CS-hydrogel. The thermal stability of nanofiller-loaded hydrogels is improved, and the differences were statistically significant (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), confirming thermal resistance. In addition, cell adhesion, proliferation, ALP activity, and the gene expression of osteogenic genes such as OPN, BSP, and OCN and angiogenesis genes, namely VEGF, ANG-1, and CD31, by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in vitro, were performed for the prepared CS-hydrogel@TiO₂NRs-exo hydrogel. Cell adhesion and spreading area were significantly enhanced (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), and in vitro studies demonstrated that the incorporation of TiO₂NRs-exo in CS hydrogel enhances the OCN, OPN, VEGF, and ANG gene expressions and promotes new bone formation. Western blotting and RT-PCR results revealed that CS-hydrogel@TiO₂NRs-exo could induce osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, while the inhibitor DKK1 significantly reduced osteogenic differentiation following stimulation with CS-hydrogel@TiO₂NRs-exo. Overall, the studies revealed that the formulated CS-hydrogel@TiO₂NRs-Exo hydrogel has superior properties and can be used as a scaffold for bone regeneration.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13719843/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149293782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A mucoadhesive collagen hydrogel co-delivering adipose-derived stem cells and quercetin nanoparticles for allergic rhinitis","authors":"Mengqian Guo,&nbsp;Qiang Jiang,&nbsp;Wei Zhang,&nbsp;Saman Jalili","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07113-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07113-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Limited nasal residence time with topical administration of medications can lead to poor effectiveness of local treatment options for allergic rhinitis (AR) due to rapid mucosal clearance and the need for frequent dosing. Novel polymeric co-delivery platforms capable of locally treating inflammation and providing prolonged bioactivity have emerged that combine controlled-release drug depots with therapeutic cells. Quercetin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (QCT-CNPs) were synthesized via ionotropic gelation then characterized for encapsulation efficiency (EE%), loading capacity (LC%), release kinetics in PBS (pH 7.4) over 72 h, and morphology/size by SEM. Collagen hydrogels containing ASCs and QCT-CNPs were fabricated and characterized for ASC metabolic activity (basal and H₂O₂ stimulated), swelling, DPPH radical-scavenging activity, anti-inflammatory activity using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages (IL-6 and TNF-α), and in vitro mucoadhesion on a mucin substrate. Hydrogel formulation groups were then compared in an ovalbumin-induced rat AR model using histology (H&amp;E staining and Masson’s trichrome), blinded histomorphometry, and nasal-tissue ELISA assay. Formulated QCT-CNPs had an EE% of 38.91 ± 8.07% and LC% of 8.08 ± 1.93%. Sustained release kinetics increased linearly to 91.637 ± 3.415% release at 72 h. SEM analysis of nanoparticles revealed mostly spherical morphology with particle size increasing from 130.4 ± 32.29 nm for blank CNPs to 176.1 ± 42.21 nm for QCT-CNPs. COL-ASCs-QCT-1 formulation consistently produced improvements in mucosal histology and histomorphometric indices in vivo, and significantly reduced tissue inflammatory mediator levels, comparable to other formulations. Localized co-delivery of ASCs and sustained-release QCT-CNPs using a collagen hydrogel represents a promising approach to treat AR by harnessing prolonged mucosal retention time with multi-modal anti-inflammatory and tissue-supportive activity.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13710425/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149260320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Construction of polyethylene glycol-cloaked mesoporous polydopamine nanomaterials co-loaded with anticancer drugs for photo/chemotherapy of lung cancer cells and elucidation of the cell death mechanism","authors":"Yueming Hu,&nbsp;Xiaolei Han","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07106-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07106-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The mortality rate can be reduced through the development of novel therapeutic drugs for lung cancer. In this study, we developed nanoparticles (NPs) consisting of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-cloaked mesoporous polydopamine (MP) loaded with indocyanine green (IG) and talazoparib (TZ), designed to combine therapies for lung cancer. MP NPs were synthesized and surface-capped with methoxypolyethylene glycol amine. PEG2K-MP and PEG5K-MP NPs were analyzed using dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. PEG2K-MP@IG&amp;TZ and PEG5K-MP@IG&amp;TZ NPs were developed using the solvent diffusion technique to co-load IG and TZ. The reduction in drug-feeding ratios led to a decrease in the amount of drug loaded and an increase in the encapsulation efficiency. PEG2K-MP@IG&amp;TZ and PEG5K-MP@IG&amp;TZ NPs, which showed excellent drug loading efficiency (IG: 9.9 ± 0.4% and 9.1 ± 0.2%; TZ: 6.8 ± 0.3% and 6.5 ± 0.2%), were chosen for further investigation. The hydrodynamic sizes ranged from 200 to 300 nm. These nanoparticles exhibited improved stability of IG in water, near-infrared laser-stimulated release of TZ, effective photothermal activity, excellent biocompatibility, and increased cellular uptake. These two nanoparticles demonstrated a stronger anticancer effect on lung cancer A549 cells than the combination of IG and TZ when irradiated with 808 nm light in vitro. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that PEG5K-MP@IG&amp;TZ NPs efficiently triggered apoptosis in A549 cells. This study presents an innovative and efficient method for combination therapy against lung cancer cells.</p>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10856-026-07106-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149226920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fused filament fabrication of radiopaque barium sulfate-reinforced polyetheretherketone composites for thin-walled patient-specific orbital reconstruction","authors":"Jokin Zubizarreta Oteiza,&nbsp;Yannick Krieger,&nbsp;Daniel Seiler,&nbsp;Philippe C. Cattin,&nbsp;Florian M. Thieringer,&nbsp;Neha Sharma","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07111-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07111-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Fused filament fabrication (FFF) of high-performance thermoplastic composites for medical applications remains challenging due to the need to meet geometric precision, mechanical, and functional requirements. This study presents the first systematic evaluation of FFF radiopaque barium sulfate-reinforced polyetheretherketone (BaSO₄-PEEK) for patient-specific orbital reconstruction, addressing dimensional accuracy, mechanical properties, and surgical precision in thin-walled implants. Six implants per material group (unfilled PEEK and 20 wt% BaSO₄-PEEK) with 0.8 mm nominal wall thickness and complex orbital geometries were fabricated and evaluated. Optical scanning showed submillimeter-level dimensional accuracy, with root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.31 ± 0.09 mm for unfilled PEEK and 0.33 ± 0.08 mm for BaSO₄-PEEK, confirming that incorporating an organic filler does not compromise manufacturability. Biomechanical testing revealed that FFF BaSO₄-PEEK implants maintained adequate puncture strength (17.58 ± 0.46 N/mm²), comparable to titanium mesh. Radiographically, BaSO₄-PEEK implants provided a 38% higher contrast-to-noise ratio than titanium and eliminated metal artefacts that obscured adjacent soft tissues. Cadaveric implantation demonstrated reconstruction accuracy (RMSE) of 0.61 ± 0.15 mm, which was better than that of manually contoured titanium mesh. These results establish FFF as a viable manufacturing method for complex, thin-walled, radiopaque PEEK composite orbital implants that provide sufficient dimensional control and mechanical performance in clinical scenarios.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10856-026-07111-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149226950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rapamycin-loaded chitosan functionalized poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles for potential wet age-related macular degeneration treatment: an in vivo study","authors":"Yuan Hu,&nbsp;Lijuan Wei,&nbsp;Haijun Yang,&nbsp;Jianhong Sun,&nbsp;Donglei Li,&nbsp;Qian Liu","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07060-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07060-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Wet age-related macular degeneration (Wet AMD) is a major cause of vision loss and has been linked to abnormal choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Current therapies require frequent intravitreal injections, which leads to poor patient adherence. Herein, this study was designed to investigate rapamycin-loaded chitosan-coated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles, which represent a sustained-release drug delivery system for wet AMD. The Rap@CS/PLGA NPs were synthesized using emulsion solvent evaporation, followed by coating with chitosan. The obtained Rap@CS/PLGA NPs exhibited a size of 265.9 ± 6.30 nm and encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 60.30 ± 1.20%. The drug release profile showed a biphasic pattern with reduced initial burst release (6 ± 0.6%) followed by sustained release (46 ± 4.1%) over 72 h, which indicates improved delivery control. In vitro cytotoxicity on ARPE and HUVEC cells showed minimal toxicity, with more than 85% viability at dosages up to 100 μg/mL. In vivo anti-angiogenic assays using the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model showed that the Rap@CS/PLGA group (13 ± 3 vessels) significantly reduced the vessel formation vs Rap (26 ± 2 vessels), confirming superior anti-angiogenic effects. Moreover, the laser-induced CNV mouse model, Rap@CS/PLGA NPs, significantly reduced levels of inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α and IL-6) and restored antioxidant enzyme (SOD, CAT). This showed that protection against oxidative stress in CNV-affected tissue promotes angiogenic gene expression (VEGFA, CCL2), while preserving retinal structure. These findings propose that Rap@CS/PLGA NPs can effectively and control drug delivery for wet-AMD with long-lasting efficacy.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10856-026-07060-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148861088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}