Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine

Rao, Yujie; Xiao, Minghe; Luo, Wangdu; Feng, Kevin; Yu, Junlong; Chen, Yi; Zhu, Xiaomin; Xu, Shicui; Yuan, Shuang; Liu, Hong; Hutnik, Cindy; Wang, Yong; Li, Xiangji; Xie, Lin

doi: 10.1007/s10856-026-07008-3pmid: 41611892

The uveoscleral outflow pathway is one of the important pathways for aqueous humor outflow. Implanting ab interno glaucoma drainage devices through this pathway does not require conjunctival filtering bleb formation, thereby avoiding bleb-related complications. However, permanent drainage devices can easily cause damage to the corneal endothelium. We hypothesize that a novel ab interno supraciliary HA-Mg biodegradable glaucoma drainage plate through the uveoscleral pathway can reduce corneal endothelial cell damage, demonstrate an IOP-lowering effect, and form and maintain a physiological aqueous outflow pathway after complete degradation and absorption. Sixteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to three groups: HA-Mg drainage plate group (10 right eyes), trabeculectomy group (6 right eyes), and control group (16 left eyes). Results showed that the intraocular pressure (IOP) in the ab interno plate group was significantly lower than in the other two groups within the first 20 weeks after surgery (P < 0.0001). After 21 weeks, the IOP in the ab interno plate group gradually returned to the levels of the other two groups. Within 5 months after surgery, the plate was completely degraded and absorbed, the aqueous humor drainage pathway extended to the supraciliary space at the anterior chamber angle, and a water sac-like gap formed above the ciliary body. At the 6th month postoperatively, the number of corneal endothelial cells in the ab interno supraciliary HA-Mg drainage plate group was 2446.0 ± 104.3, and in the control group was 2391.67 ± 49.6, revealing no statistically significant difference (t = −1.611, P = 0.168). In summary, the HA-Mg biodegradable glaucoma drainage plate placement in rabbits was well fixed in the supraciliary space. After 5 months of implantation, the internal drainage plate was completely absorbed, and the implantation procedure and degradation process did not cause damage to the corneal endothelial cells. Compared with the trabeculectomy group, the ab interno plate group maintained a significantly lower IOP for a longer period in this normotensive rabbit model. Although an aqueous humor drainage channel was formed after degradation, the IOP gradually returned to the levels of the control group.Graphical AbstractWe developed a biodegradable material hydroxyapatite coated magnesium (HA-Mg) as a glaucoma drainage device. The device is implanted into the supraciliary space, where it effectively reduces intraocular pressure (IOP) and gradually degrades. After complete degradation, a functional drainage pathway remains, without causing corneal endothelial damage.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

He, Yujiao; Xie, Rongxiang

doi: 10.1007/s10856-026-07014-5pmid: 42010085

BackgroundStroke 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.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

Zhao, Yonggang; Liu, Honglei

doi: 10.1007/s10856-026-07016-3pmid: 41758232

Poly (L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) is a novel polymer that has attracted considerable attention in the biomedical field due to its exceptional biocompatibility. However, a comprehensive and systematic summary of its diverse applications remains lacking. To address this gap, the present review outlines the physicochemical properties of PLCL and the factors that influence them. Additionally, it consolidates the most commonly employed processing and preparation methods for PLCL in biomedical applications. The review further provides a systematic overview of current applications of PLCL in various biomedical fields, including wound healing, cardiovascular stents, nerve repair, osteochondral tissue engineering, drug delivery, and screening. It also examines modification strategies aimed at enhancing PLCL performance. Ultimately, this review seeks to provide valuable insights for future research and development of PLCL in biomedical contexts.Graphical Abstract[graphic not available: see fulltext]

Al-Baadani, Mohammed A.; Cai, Kexin; Luo, Hongyu; Li, Gaowen; Yuan, Yongping; Shen, Xinkun; Liu, Jinsong; Zheng, Xudong; Ma, Pingping

doi: 10.1007/s10856-025-06996-ypmid: 41528647

Guided bone regeneration (GBR) is a critical regenerative strategy for repairing periodontal tissues and craniofacial bone defects. It can establish space to prevent undesirable soft tissue invasion and improve bone regeneration. However, commercially available GBR membranes have some disadvantages in terms of biocompatibility and antibacterial efficacy. Hence, we prepared a polycaprolactone (PCL) membrane by electrospinning and then in situ synthesized vancomycin-assisted zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (Van-ZIF-8) nanoparticles on its surface. With the formation of Van-ZIF-8, the mechanical properties of the PCL membrane were significantly enhanced. Moreover, the release rates of Van and zinc ions (Zn2+) showed pH responsiveness. In an acidic environment (pH 5.4), the fast hydrolysis of Van-ZIF-8 led to the rapid release of Van and Zn2+. The PCL/Van-ZIF-8 membrane exhibited enhanced antibacterial activity against both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Streptococcus mutans, through the hydrolysis of Van-ZIF-8 nanoparticles. Furthermore, the in vitro results for MC3T3-E1 and L929 cells, including cell viability, alkaline phosphatase activity, mineralization level, collagen secretion, gene expression, and fluorescence staining, demonstrated that the PCL/Van-ZIF-8 membrane possessed excellent osteoinductive capacity and could act as an ideal physical barrier to fibroblast growth.Graphical AbstractSchematic illustration of the PCL/Van-Zif-8 electrospinning membrane fabrication and its promotion of mechanical, osteogenesis, and antibacterial properties.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

Bello, Samir A.; Rodríguez-Monroig, Aimeé; Vargas-Morales, Andrea; Rodríguez -Rolón, Alondra S.; Zuluaga-Gómez, Claudia C.; Bracho-Rincón, Dina Paola; Nicolau, Eduardo

doi: 10.1007/s10856-026-07032-3pmid: 41928034

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) inhibitors are a diverse class of small molecules known to promote osteogenic differentiation in cell monolayers. However, the osteoinductive capacity of GSK-3 inhibitors loaded into scaffolds remains underexplored. To address this, the study first evaluated three GSK-3 inhibitors—DIPQUO, 1-Azakenpaullone (Azak), and CHIR99021 (CHIR)—for their ability to enhance matrix mineralization in pre-osteoblast monolayers. The results showed that only Azak and CHIR induced a significant osteogenic response. Consequently, these two inhibitors were incorporated separately into cellulose acetate solutions to fabricate electrospun scaffolds. The physicochemical properties, molecular integrity, and release profiles of Azak and CHIR from the membranes were next characterized. Subsequently, biocompatibility and osteoinductive potential of the GSK-3 inhibitor-loaded membranes were assessed. In terms of scaffold characteristics, CHIR loading significantly reduced the water contact angle. Both inhibitors exhibited a burst release profile consistent with first-order kinetics. Pre-osteoblasts demonstrated comparable growth on unloaded and GSK-3 inhibitor-loaded scaffolds, with no evidence of cytotoxicity. Importantly, CHIR-loaded mats enhanced cell adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation, whereas Azak-loaded membranes inhibited matrix mineralization. Taken together, these findings indicate that CHIR-loaded scaffolds possess in vitro bioactivity and may be promising for bone tissue engineering applications.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

Zhang, Sheng; Liu, Xiaomei; Fan, Longxin; Luo, Hongtao; Zhang, Haiyun; Zhou, Bing

doi: 10.1007/s10856-026-07045-ypmid: 41999510

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.Graphical Abstract[graphic not available: see fulltext]

Ghanipour, Razieh; Zare-Zardini, Hadi; Eslami, Hossein

doi: 10.1007/s10856-026-07009-2pmid: 41661388

Teeth and dental materials are very noteworthy because of their important role in digestion and facial beauty. It is necessary to develop dental materials with suitable physical, chemical and biological properties to improve the quality and beauty of teeth. Fullerene, as a spherical allotrope of carbon, has potent properties for medical applications. In this combinatorial review article, we focus on the application of fullerene C60 in dentistry. By searching the database for suitable keywords (“fullerene”, “dental” and “dentistry”), 12 related articles were found. The data extracted from these articles showed that fullerene C60 can improve the mechanical properties of dental materials, prevent bacterial and fungal infections in the mouth, reduce frictional forces during orthodontic tooth movement, reduce the oxidation of orthodontic wires, improve surface topography, and adjust the roughness of dental implants in cell proliferation and connections, reduce the overall roughness of dental implants, increase the biocompatibility of dental materials, improve osteonectography by inducing biomineralization and differentiation of osteoblasts, act as alkaline phosphatase-like catalysts and increase the concentration of phosphate ions, improve the longevity and quality of implants, reduce worn teeth and corrosion, and prevent prosthetic stomatitis and inflammation. One related study showed that the designed fullerene-based system can be used as a probe to evaluate alpha-amylase activity and serve as an alternative analytical method for caries detection. Based on this article, the future of dentistry and dental materials is bright due to the spherical nanostructure of fullerene and the development of research in the field of its use in dentistry.Graphical Abstract[graphic not available: see fulltext]

Wu, Lang; Zhu, Yu; Meng, Qing

doi: 10.1007/s10856-025-06931-1pmid: 41636885

Despite ongoing research efforts, spinal cord injury (SCI) remains one of the most disabling neurological disorders where current therapies provide limited solutions that mostly address symptoms rather than true regeneration. The latest research indicates that exosome-loaded hydrogel systems could function as a dual-purpose treatment for spinal cord injury in regenerative medicine. Exosomes are tiny membrane-enclosed extracellular vesicles that carry multiple therapeutic biomolecules which help control inflammation while delivering neuroprotective and tissue regenerative properties. The structural support and controlled release capabilities of hydrogels allow them to encapsulate exosomes which leads to their stable and bioactive delivery to the injury site. This study evaluates recent progress in exosome-loaded hydrogel technology for spinal cord injury repair by examining SCI mechanisms and the advantages of combining exosomes with hydrogels to develop optimized delivery systems. Our discussion will cover both the challenges of standardizing exosome production and hydrogel formulation as well as the scalability of these systems for in vivo applications. The following review will provide a summary of this novel SCI treatment approach and set out research directions to develop a therapy that is efficient, scalable, and translatable to humans.Graphical abstract[graphic not available: see fulltext]

Macartney, Robyn A.; Fricker, Annabelle T. R.; Tajalla, Gusti U. N.; Smith, Andrew M.; Kishida, Shosei; Fedele, Stefano; Roy, Ipsita; Knowles, Jonathan C.

doi: 10.1007/s10856-026-07030-5pmid: 41886135

Chronic wounds, burns and ulceration of dermal and mucosal tissues are extremely common and can arise for a wide variety of reasons causing extreme pain and reducing patient quality of life. Current treatment regimens involve the use of topical corticosteroids for prolonged treatment periods. Due to issues surrounding the use of topical ointments there is inadequate drug contact with the wound site and non-specific tissue interaction, potentially leading to significant development of fungal infections as a side effect to corticosteroid treatment. Medium chain length (MCL) and short chain length (SCL) polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) may be applicable to optimise material properties for wound dressing applications. Initial work focussed on defining the optimal electrospinning parameters for suitably elastic fibres whilst subsequent work focussed on achieving an optimised dosing of clobetasol propionate (CP) and fluconazole (FLU) for incorporation with the electrospun fibres without detrimentally compromising the properties of the scaffolds for wound healing applications. Physical and mechanical analysis showed that the 80:20 blend of MCL:SCL polymer at an electrospinning solution concentration of 10% (w/v) gave defect-free fibres with the best elastic properties for wound dressing applications. CP and FLU incorporation into the electrospun fibres did not cause any significant decrease in oral mucosal cell viability. Following in vitro wound healing study promising formulations containing 2% and 10% CP and FLU, respectively, were identified.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

Gladrow, Karoline; Unkovskiy, Alexey; Yassine, Jamila; Gaertner, Nora; Topolniak, Ievgeniia; Henning, Nico; Schmidt, Franziska

doi: 10.1007/s10856-026-07006-5pmid: 41586940

3D printing is increasingly utilized in dentistry. Compared to traditional manufacturing methods, 3D printing provides advantages such as faster production times and the ability to create complex structures. Although biocompatible materials are available, many are only suitable for temporary applications. This study examines the impact of nitrogen-aided post-processing on the mechanical properties and cytotoxicity of 3D-printed denture bases, with the hypothesis that this post-processing will enhance material properties and decrease cytotoxicity. Specimens were fabricated from V-print dentbase (Voco GmbH, Cuxhaven, Germany) and post-processed either in nitrogen or air. The specimens were categorized into aged and non-aged groups. For comparison, specimens made from milled material were utilized. Vickers hardness, flexural strength, polishability, cytotoxicity, and degree of conversion were then assessed for all groups. The data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD test for multiple comparisons, with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. Post-curing with nitrogen improved the degree of conversion, surface hardness, and biocompatibility of 3D-printed dental materials, confirming reduced cytotoxicity without impairing mechanical properties. Nitrogen increased polymerization and decreased harmful monomers, making it ideal for clinical applications in contact with the oral mucosa. Optimizing post-processing steps, such as curing in nitrogen, enhances biocompatibility while maintaining strength and hardness, ensuring better patient care in dental applications.[graphic not available: see fulltext]