Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine最新文献

{"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,&nbsp;Rongxiang Xie","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07014-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07014-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>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). Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusion: 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><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/s10856-026-07014-5.pdf","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":"OA","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,&nbsp;Alexandra Robciuc,&nbsp;Ville Pollari,&nbsp;Jukka A. O. Moilanen,&nbsp;Kai Kaarniranta,&nbsp;Lasse Leino","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07048-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07048-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><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 <b>(</b>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><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":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10856-026-07048-9.pdf","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":"OA","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,&nbsp;Xiaomei Liu,&nbsp;Longxin Fan,&nbsp;Hongtao Luo,&nbsp;Haiyun Zhang,&nbsp;Bing Zhou","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07045-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07045-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><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><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><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":"2026-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13219067/pdf/","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":"OA","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,&nbsp;Asadollah Kalantarian,&nbsp;Parvaneh Naserzadeh,&nbsp;Mohammad Behnam Rad,&nbsp;Hossein Ayazi,&nbsp;Hassaan A. Butt,&nbsp;Ali Khademi,&nbsp;Mohammad Mahdi Ahadian,&nbsp;Dmitry V. Krasnikov,&nbsp;Eric Plaza,&nbsp;Albert G. Nasibulin","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07035-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07035-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><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 (&lt;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><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><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":"2026-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10856-026-07035-0.pdf","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":"OA","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,&nbsp;Anuradha Vaidya,&nbsp;Yvonne Reinwald,&nbsp;Ruchi Mishra Tiwari","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07040-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07040-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><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><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":"2026-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13219076/pdf/","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":"OA","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,&nbsp;Ghasem Dini,&nbsp;Fatemeh Ejeian,&nbsp;Aliakbar Najafinezhad,&nbsp;Sayede Tayebe Mousavi Mourkani","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07029-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07029-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><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, &lt;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><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":"2026-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13219114/pdf/","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":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Arginine-loaded silica nanoparticles inhibit E. faecalis in root canals","authors":"Meng-ya LI,&nbsp;Wen ZHANG,&nbsp;Yi-yuan XIA,&nbsp;Jian SUN,&nbsp;Qing-an XU","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07034-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07034-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Bacterial infection of the root canal system, especially by <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> (<i>E. faecalis</i>), is the primary cause of root canal treatment failure, and intracanal medication has been proven to be an effective method for controlling root canal infection. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with their sponge-like structure, tunable particle size, surface functionalization, and favorable biocompatibility offer promise for intracanal drug delivery. This study evaluated the antibacterial efficacy of an arginine-loaded MSN system (MSN@Arg) against <i>E. faecalis</i>, its effects on osteogenic differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells, and its ability to control infection within the root canal system. The physicochemical properties and drug release profile of MSN@Arg were assessed using electron microscopy and other analytical techniques. Antibacterial activity was evaluated through bacterial culture assays. Alkaline phosphatase and Alizarin Red staining were performed to evaluate osteogenic differentiation. An <i>E. faecalis</i>-infected root canal model was established in extracted teeth, and the antibacterial efficacy of MSN@Arg, chlorhexidine (CHX), and calcium hydroxide was compared at 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after drug sealing. The synthesized MSNs (diameter &lt; 100 nm) exhibited extensive distribution within dentinal tubules. MSN@Arg enabled sustained and stable release of arginine, inhibited <i>E. faecalis</i> in both planktonic and biofilm states, and promoted ALP expression and mineralized nodule formation in MC3T3-E1 cells, with high biocompatibility. MSN@Arg demonstrated greater antibacterial efficacy than calcium hydroxide on days 3 and 7, was comparable to CHX on day 14, and slightly more effective than CHX on day 21. Given its deep penetration into dentinal tubules and sustained drug release capacity, MSN@Arg represents a promising agent for root canal disinfection.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><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":"2026-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13219140/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147669773","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":"Photosensitive and extracellular matrix-mimicking hydrogels promote the tendon-bone healing in rotator cuff injury","authors":"Yuxuan Liu,&nbsp;Huanv Mao,&nbsp;Ziyang Tian,&nbsp;Xiaoting Wang,&nbsp;Chunyan Bao,&nbsp;Bingchen An,&nbsp;Chunxi Yang","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07039-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07039-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The healing of the tendon-bone interface remains a significant challenge due to the lack of suitable bioactive materials for promoting interface regeneration. To address this, we developed a photosensitive hydrogel system designed to mimic the extracellular matrix. This system is based on light-induced imine crosslinking between type I collagen (Col I) and o-nitrobenzyl alcohol (NB)-modified hyaluronic acid (HANB). Experimental results demonstrate that the hydrogel (Col I-HANB) exhibits excellent controllability, low swelling rate, biodegradability, and tissue-adhesive properties. Using a fluorescent dye (8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid trisodium salt, HPTS) as a model molecule, we confirmed that the hydrogel enables localized and sustained release, high-lighting its potential as a drug-delivery platform for tissue engineering. To further enhance tendon-bone interface repair, the hydrogel was functionalized with two key components: (I) The E7 peptide, known for its stem cell-homing properties, was covalently immobilized into the hydrogel network via conjugation to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and followed by imine-ligation between UV-triggered aldehyde generation from HANB and BSA’s amino groups; and (II) Kartogenin (KGN)-loaded nanoparticles (KGN-NPs) were incorporated to potentially promote chondrogenic differentiation, with release assays confirming sustained KGN delivery over 21 days. The composite hydrogel demonstrated excellent biocompatibility in cytotoxicity and live/dead assays. Importantly, in a rabbit rotator cuff tear model, it effectively promoted fibrocartilage regeneration and significantly improved tendon-bone healing, creating a favorable microenvironment for repair. The results above indicate that the hydrogel system provides a good microenvironment for rotator cuff injury repair and is a promising scaffold applied in treatment of rotator cuff injury.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><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><p>The construction diagram of Col I-HANB hydrogel and the application in promoting rotator cuff injury repair. HANB: ortho-nitrobenzyl alcohol (NB)-modified hyaluronic acid (HA). KGN: Kartogenin. The KGN incorporated to the hydrogel can induce the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes in the tendon-bone interface. The structure and composition of tendon-bone interface are shown on the right side of the figure: From top to bottom, there are tendon, non-mineralized fibrocartilage, mineralized fibrocartilage, and bone.</p></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":647,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13219066/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147669553","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":"Ag-enhanced β titanium alloys for surgical implants: microstructural regulation achieves superior strength, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility","authors":"Xiqun Ma,&nbsp;Yufei Tang,&nbsp;Sen Yu,&nbsp;Wenhao Zhou,&nbsp;Jun Cheng,&nbsp;Tian Bai,&nbsp;Lan Wang,&nbsp;Hanyuan Liu,&nbsp;Xiyuan Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s10856-026-07038-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10856-026-07038-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>β-titanium alloys attract great interest in surgical implants due to its low elastic modulus. The addition of Ag further enhances the strength, ductility, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of such alloys, which optimizes their compatibility with human bones. In this study, Ti-15Mo-xAg (x = 1, 5 wt.%) alloy rods were prepared by optimized melting, forging and rolling processes. The microstructural evolution, mechanical properties, corrosion behavior and biocompatibility of the alloy were systematically studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), mechanical testing, electrochemical analysis and biocompatibility assays. The results showed that the aged Ti-15Mo-5Ag alloy presented a special heterogeneous microstructure of β matrix and micro-nano scale precipitated phase (α₁ + α₂ + Ti₂Ag), which enabled it to achieve excellent mechanical adaptability. Its tensile strength reached 1208 MPa, and the elongation was 11.5%, while the alloy maintained a low elastic modulus of 98 GPa. The self-corrosion current density of the alloy in the simulated body fluids was as low as 1.176 × 10^-8A·cm^-2. In vitro biological tests indicated good biocompatibility. This alloy is expected to become a candidate material for future surgical implant applications.</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":"2026-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13219071/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147626697","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}