Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Montmorillonite in next-generation drug delivery: patent trends, safety insights, and industrial advancements.","authors":"Afzal Haq Asif, B R Asha, Samathoti Prasanthi, Prakash Goudanavar, Kalappa Prashantha, K S Srikruthi, N Raghavendra Naveen, Girish Meravanige, Predeepkumar Narayanappa Shiroorka, Krishna Swaroop, Pavan Kumar Pavagada Sreenivasalu, Nagaraja Sreeharsha","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07031-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-026-07031-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Montmorillonite (MMT) is a natural clay mineral and the major component of bentonite, and it possesses an exceptional swelling capacity, a high potential for adsorption, and excellent biocompatibility. Therefore, MMT has been identified as an attractive candidate for pharmaceutical applications in drug nano delivery systems. In recent years, research on MMT has also gained momentum because of its ability to improve the solubility, rate of dissolution, and bioavailability of poor-water-soluble drugs in polymeric nanocomposites. Although much research has been done on the formulation advantages of MMT, critical analysis of their translational progress and industrial uptake remains inadequate. This reviews an in-depth study of the role of MMT as a pharmaceutical excipient in nano drug delivery through a synergy of published work and patent landscape analysis. Patents on MMT-based formulations are sequenced and scrutinized to identify significant players in the industry, therapeutic applications, and emerging patterns of technology. In the comparative assessment of research publications vis-a-vis patents in the decade under review, evolving innovation patterns have of late drawn attention to scalable, multifunctional, clinically relevant MMT nanocomposites. Overall, the review indicates how MMT is gaining importance in pharmaceutical development and what it will provide for the future concerning rational design, regulatory convergence, and commercialization of MMT-embedded polymeric nano drug delivery systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147759317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hybrid Isoxazole-Hydroxyapatite composites as antimicrobial agents: integrated in silico and in vitro investigation.","authors":"Aziz Arzine, Khalil Azzaoui, Khaoula Faiz, Yousra Kachbou, Asmae Nakkabi, Bouchra Louasté, Joel T Mague, Belkheir Hammouti, Mohammed Merzouki, Ghanem Hamdoun, Adam Duong, Shehdeh Jodeh, Mohamed El Yazidi","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07052-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-026-07052-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this study, an innovative methodology was implemented to combine an isoxazole derivative (ARZ) with hydroxyapatite (HAp), varying several parameters to obtain three distinct composites (ARZ-Hap-1, ARZ-Hap-2 and ARZ-Hap-3). These composites (ARZ-Hap) were synthesized by a dissolution-recrystallization process, thereby facilitating enhanced interaction between ARZ and HAp. This approach promoted homogeneous dispersion of ARZ within the HAp matrix, consequently enhancing the stability and functionality of the resulting materials. The structural characterization of these composites was determined by FT-IR, XRD, BET, TGA, and NMR (¹³C, ³¹P) methods. Subsequently, the composites were subjected to a rigorous evaluation process to ascertain their antibacterial and antifungal activities. Among them, ARZ-HAp-3 exhibited noticeable antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, and B. subtilis, demonstrating a measurable inhibitory effect on bacterial growth. In terms of antifungal activity, this composite demonstrated the best results, particularly against C. albicans and F. oxysporum, with minimal MIC and MFC values comparable to those of fluconazole. These results indicate the potential of the ARZ-HAp-3 composite as a promising bioactive material, demonstrating a combination of structural efficiency and targeted biological activity. The release of ARZ from the composites was monitored by UV-Visible spectroscopy, revealing a gradual and controlled profile. The quantity of the substance released is proportional to the initial content of ARZ, with a maximum observed for ARZ-Hap-3 (~900 mg/L). This mechanism, based on slow diffusion, confirms the potential of these materials for sustained release of active ingredients. Furthermore, a molecular docking analysis was conducted to explore potential interactions between ARZ and biological targets associated with the pathogens studied. The results of the study indicated a high binding affinity of ARZ with certain enzymes that are essential for bacterial and fungal survival. This finding corroborates the experimental observations made in the study, thereby providing a scientific rationale for the observed effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147759279","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microstructural and functional evaluation of bioactive glass-ferrite hybrid coatings deposited on pure titanium using an electric-field-assisted technique.","authors":"Zahra Sohani, Hamed Jamshidi Aval, Sayed Mahmood Rabiee","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07028-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-026-07028-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this study, bioactive glass-ferrite (Fe₃O₄) hybrid coatings were deposited on commercially pure titanium using an electric-field-assisted electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique, and their microstructural and functional properties were quantitatively evaluated. Bioactive glass co-deposited with 5 wt.% Fe₃O₄ particles at a constant applied voltage of 25 V, while the deposition time was systematically varied between 6- and 24-min. Microstructural observations revealed that short deposition times (6-12 min) resulted in discontinuous and non-uniform coatings, whereas prolonged deposition (18-24 min) produced dense, continuous, and well-adhered layers. Wettability measurements showed a pronounced enhancement in surface hydrophilicity, with water contact angles decreasing from 57.6 ± 1.22° for the bare substrate to 35.4 ± 1.35° and 18.9 ± 1.18° for coatings deposited for 12 and 24 min, respectively. Electrochemical tests in phosphate-buffered saline at 37 °C demonstrated that increasing deposition time improved the barrier performance of the coatings, as evidenced by a reduction in corrosion current density from 8.16 × 10⁻⁷ A/cm² at 18 min to 2.95 × 10⁻⁷ A/cm² at 24 min, alongside an increase in charge transfer resistance from 1.35 × 10⁴ to 4.58 × 10⁴ Ω·cm². Although the uncoated titanium exhibited the highest intrinsic corrosion resistance due to its stable passive oxide layer, the optimized hybrid coating deposited at 25 V for 24 min offered the best compromise between enhanced surface roughness, superior wettability, and improved electrochemical performance among the coated samples.</p>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147759298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Therapeutic effects of an engineered bionic decoy-integrated versatile immunosuppressive nanosystem based on an in vitro blood-brain barrier model in ischemic stroke.","authors":"Yujiao He, Rongxiang Xie","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07014-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-026-07014-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Stroke is a class of acute cerebrovascular diseases, among which ischaemic stroke is characterized by high morbidity and high recurrence rate. Due to multiple pathological mechanisms, it is very easy to cause cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion injury (RI). To quickly and effectively regulate the complex and variable cerebral immune microenvironment (IM) and reduce RI, the study aims to use a versatile immunosuppressive nanosystem (VIN) to efficiently remodel the overactivated brain IM and alleviate RI, thereby enhancing the effects of ischemic stroke (IS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study first induced high expression of CXCR4 receptor in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell membranes using Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, then extracted the cell membranes by hypotonic lysis and repeated freeze-thawing and reconstituted using ultrasound to form engineered bionic decoy vesicles. Next, polydopamine nanoparticles were prepared by oxidative self-polymerization, using Zn²⁺ as a bridge to obtain A151-loaded polydopamine nanoparticles. Finally, it was reconstituted with engineered bionic decoy vesicles using ultrasonic cavitation to prepare a VIN integrated with engineered bionic decoys.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>It was shown that Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄ NPs) could significantly increase the expression level of CXCR4 receptor. In rats treated by the VIN group, the body weight had increased to near the normal level by day 7, and the infarct area was reduced by 89.4%. The results showed that VIN was able to effectively reduce the volume of cerebral ischemic infarction in rats in long-term treatment, and had a good therapeutic effect on IS.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study achieved internal and external synergistic immunosuppressive effects to effectively and safely regulate the excessive IM after reperfusion, which provides a new idea to alleviate ischaemia-RI.</p>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147728000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biofilm formation associated with calcium phosphate coating on implant metals","authors":"David Mrosek,&nbsp;Nataniel Białas,&nbsp;Aileen Winter,&nbsp;Oleg Prymak,&nbsp;Kateryna Loza,&nbsp;Matthias Epple","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07053-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07053-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Three clinically relevant implant metals, i.e., stainless steel (SS316L), pure titanium (grade 4), and the titanium alloy Ti6Al4V (grade 5), were coated with octacalcium phosphate from supersaturated aqueous calcium phosphate solution. Calcium phosphate coatings are frequently applied to enhance the osteoconductivity of metal implants. However, this leads to a higher surface roughness that increases the risk for bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. The bacterial species <i>Escherichia coli</i> (Gram-negative rods) and <i>Staphylococcus xylosus</i> (Gram-positive cocci) were seeded on the bare metals and the calcium phosphate-coated metals, respectively, and cultivated for up to 72 h to assess the biofilm formation. The efficiency of biofilm production by bacteria was evaluated by the crystal violet assay, scanning electron microscopy, and confocal microscopy. The growth of <i>S. xylosus</i> was always strong, with and without calcium phosphate coating, whereas <i>E. coli</i> proliferated better on calcium phosphate-coated metals. Both bacterial species colonized cavities within the porous calcium phosphate coating as indicated by scanning electron microscopy. The metabolic activity of <i>S. xylosus</i> caused a pH drop to 5.5 that led to corrosion of the calcium phosphate layer by acidic dissolution. In contrast, <i>E. coli</i> led to an increase in pH to about 8.9 that did not affect the coating. Osteoblast-like MG-63 cells adhered and proliferated well on both coated and uncoated metals, underscoring the good osteocompatibility before and after coating.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10856-026-07053-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147738211","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":"In vitro tolerability of soluble silicic acid and tetraethyl orthosilicate in ocular epithelial cells.","authors":"Aleksandra Poluianova, Alexandra Robciuc, Ville Pollari, Jukka A O Moilanen, Kai Kaarniranta, Lasse Leino","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07048-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-026-07048-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biodegradable silica microparticles (SiMPs) are a promising carrier matrix for controlled ocular drug delivery. In tissues, SiMPs degrade into silicic acid (SiA), a soluble inorganic weak acid. This study evaluated the in vitro toxicity and tolerability of SiA and SiMPs' precursor, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), in human corneal epithelial cells (HCE-2) and retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19). Cells were exposed to serial dilutions of SiA and TEOS. Cell viability was assessed after 24, 48, and 72 h using the alamarBlue assay, while membrane integrity was analyzed through LDH release. To evaluate cellular stress from SiA and TEOS, levels of pro-inflammatory, apoptosis, and heat shock stress response markers were measured. Neither viability assay revealed significant differences in survival rates between the control group and 30 µg/mL SiA in ARPE-19 and HCE-2 cells at all time points. ARPE-19 viability decreased with low SiA concentrations, but this was not supported by LDH release or caspase-3 activation. Inflammatory markers IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 secretion or heat shock protein 70 expression levels were not changed in either cell line in response to SiA. Conversely, TEOS reduced cell viability at high concentrations (0.6-2.4 mg/mL) and affected the cytokine response in both cell lines. Our results indicate that both cell lines can tolerate SiA concentrations up to 30 µg/mL. In contrast, TEOS showed toxicity at concentrations above 0.6 mg/mL, which greatly exceeds expected levels in the SiMP formulation. These findings support the use of SiMPs as drug delivery vehicles in ophthalmic formulations.</p>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147727998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioinspired polymer-incorporated copper/iron nanozyme to boost cascade ROS accumulation for augmented hepatocellular carcinoma cuproptosis/ferroptosis.","authors":"Sheng Zhang, Xiaomei Liu, Longxin Fan, Hongtao Luo, Haiyun Zhang, Bing Zhou","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07045-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-026-07045-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), an infamously incurable tumor, is extremely sensitive to ferroptosis, and its development is greatly aided by the glutathione (GSH) antioxidant defense system. We present a gelatin (GT)/hyaluronic acid (HA)-stabilized Copper (Cu) and Iron (Fe) nanoparticle (5CFGH NPs) for HCC therapy that uses a self-amplified dual mechanism of cuproptosis and ferroptosis. It has a Cu/Fe mass ratio of 5:5. HA in 5CFGH selectively binds to HCC cells overexpressing CD44 receptor. This enables 5CFGH to release metal ions in acidic conditions after entering cells through receptor-mediated endocytosis. In the HepG2 cell line, released Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ react with GSH to form Fe²⁺ and Cu⁺, thereby damaging the antioxidant system. To promote ferroptosis, these ions react with H₂O₂ in Fenton/Fenton-like ways, producing harmful hydroxyl radicals (•OH). High-valent Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ are created in the meantime, creating a cycle that depletes GSH and generates •OH. When H₂O₂ is depleted, the cells' increased Cu⁺ level leads to the aggregation of lipoylated proteins, which intensifies cuproptosis. 5CFGH showed excellent cell-killing efficiency against HCC. Overall, 5CFGH is a possible drug that could induce self-amplification of cuproptosis/ferroptosis in HCC.</p>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147715597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Degradable biophotonic scaffolds of mesoporous graphene for regenerating neural pathways.","authors":"Omid Akhavan, Asadollah Kalantarian, Parvaneh Naserzadeh, Mohammad Behnam Rad, Hossein Ayazi, Hassaan A Butt, Ali Khademi, Mohammad Mahdi Ahadian, Dmitry V Krasnikov, Eric Plaza, Albert G Nasibulin","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07035-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-026-07035-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mesoporous graphene frameworks (MGFs) were synthesized as p-type semiconductors with a nonzero band gap of ~1 eV and used as 3D photo-sensitive scaffolds for effective differentiation of human neural stem cells (hNSCs) into 3D-neural networks, under near-infrared (NIR) laser stimulation. The fabrication process involved the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of 3D graphene frameworks (GFs) on Ni foams, followed by the removal of the Ni templates. Subsequently, TiO₂ nanoparticles were employed to induce localized photocatalytic degradation of the CVD-grown sheets of the 3D-GF to obtain the 3D-MGFs. The biocompatibility of the graphene frameworks was evaluated by assessing the proliferation and differentiation of hNSCs. Under NIR stimulation, the 3D-MGF scaffolds exhibited more proliferation of hNSCs and higher cell differentiation into neurons (rather than glia) as compared to the 3D-GF ones. The better performance of the 3D-MGFs is attributable to the photocatalytic activity of the scaffolds induced by the injection of low-energy (<0.5eV) photoelectrons from the scaffold into the cells. The MGFs also exhibited a degradable property under photocatalytic reactions induced by the NIR laser irradiation in the cell culture media. These results suggest the potential for in-vivo regeneration of neural networks on biocompatible as well as biodegradable scaffolds through NIR-laser therapy, contributing to advancements in emerging nanomedicine.</p>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147715560","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydrogels and cryogels as in vitro engineered 3D neurodegenerative models: scope and significance.","authors":"Ishaan Shah, Anuradha Vaidya, Yvonne Reinwald, Ruchi Mishra Tiwari","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07040-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-026-07040-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) represent a diverse set of incurable and debilitating conditions that have become increasingly prevalent in recent years. A thorough understanding of the causes and mechanisms underlying these diseases is needed in order to develop effective treatments. Model systems-in vitro as well as in vivo have helped the researchers gain insights into the disease mechanisms. However, these model systems are unable to precisely mimic the pathophysiology of NDs, making them less physiologically relevant. Therefore, to bridge this gap, 3D in vitro model systems are being developed, which are better suited to recapitulate the specific features of NDs. Unlike other reviews that address these 3D in vitro model systems in a broader sense, without considering the unique material characteristics and applications of specific scaffold types, this review focuses exclusively on biomaterial-based 3D in vitro model systems, viz. hydrogels and their technically evolved versions-cryogels. Both these classes of biomaterials possess tunable physical and chemical properties, thereby serving as advanced models for NDs. This comprehensive review provides a detailed insight into hydrogel- and cryogel-based 3D culture systems, comparing their structural characteristics, mechanical design and bio-functionality, along with their ability to mimic the complex pathological processes occurring in neurodegeneration. By critically assessing their advantages and limitations, we bring to notice their overall physiological relevance as far as understanding NDs is concerned. These 3D models upon subsequent improvisation and validation could potentially be used in various aspects of drug discovery and development, starting from drug screening to early target identification for the development of neurotherapeutics.</p>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147687665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing the osteogenic potential of 3D-printed polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds via in-situ ZIF-8 surface modification.","authors":"Saba Moslemi, Ghasem Dini, Fatemeh Ejeian, Aliakbar Najafinezhad, Sayede Tayebe Mousavi Mourkani","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07029-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-026-07029-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bone defects remain a major clinical challenge, necessitating advanced scaffolds that combine suitable mechanics, bioactivity, and osteoinductive cues for effective regeneration. This study developed 3D-printed polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite (PCL/HA) composite scaffolds via fused deposition modeling and enhanced their surface with in-situ zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) modification to promote osteogenic performance. Hydrothermally synthesized HA nanoparticles exhibited high crystallinity, <100 nm size, and ~23 m²/g specific surface area. The optimal PCL + 25 wt.% HA composition achieved a compressive modulus of ~0.36 GPa and strength of ~17 MPa, within the range reported for human trabecular bone. The scaffolds demonstrated controlled biodegradation ( ~ 15% weight loss after 28 days in PBS) and strong bioactivity, with progressive apatite mineralization confirmed by SEM, XRD, and ion concentration changes in simulated body fluid over 28 days. ZIF-8 surface functionalization enabled sustained, non-burst Zn²⁺ release (0.18-1.66 ppm over 28 days) within safe biological limits. In vitro assays using MG-63 cells showed significantly improved cell adhesion, proliferation (MTS assay), and osteogenic differentiation on ZIF-8-modified scaffolds compared to unmodified controls, evidenced by 2.1-fold higher alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and 2.5-fold higher BMP2 gene expression after 21 days of induction. These results demonstrate that the synergistic combination of HA reinforcement and controlled Zn²⁺ release from ZIF-8 provides a multifunctional scaffold platform for bone regeneration.</p>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147669232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}