Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces [JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Enhanced follicular delivery of minoxidil to human scalp skin using cetosomal formulation.
Jain GK, Mishra A, Garg V … +4 more , Jha B, Balasubramanian A, Gaikwad S, Dhoot D
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42070486 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common condition marked by progressive hair follicle miniaturization, for which topical minoxidil remains a first-line therapy. However, conventional hydroalcoholic formulatio...
BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common condition marked by progressive hair follicle miniaturization, for which topical minoxidil remains a first-line therapy. However, conventional hydroalcoholic formulations are associated with poor scalp retention, rapid drug loss, and local irritation. This study evaluated the follicular targeting, skin retention, and mechanistic behavior of a cetosomal minoxidil formulation. METHODS: Cetosomal minoxidil (5%) was prepared using patented technology and characterized for size, morphology, and zeta potential. Drug release was assessed by dialysis. Ex vivo penetration and follicular uptake were evaluated in Franz diffusion cells using porcine ear skin, and in vivo penetration was assessed in rats. A randomized, open-label, three-arm clinical pilot study (n = 12) was conducted in males with AGA (Norwood III-V), to compare once-daily cetosomal minoxidil (OCM), twice-daily cetosomal minoxidil (TCM), and twice-daily minoxidil solution (TMS). Scalp penetration was quantified by gamma scintigraphy. RESULTS: Cetosomes were submicron vesicular structures with a bimodal size distribution (∼500 nm) and a zeta potential of -29.5 mV. A biphasic release profile was observed, with an initial burst followed by sustained release. Ex vivo studies demonstrated significantly higher skin retention (up to ∼5.6-fold) and lower transdermal permeation than the conventional solution. Follicular targeting was significantly enhanced. DSC, FTIR, and XRD analyses confirmed lipid disruption, reduced crystallinity, and increased fluidization of the stratum corneum. In vivo imaging showed enhanced skin retention, penetration, and localized distribution of cetosomes. Clinical scintigraphy studies demonstrated significantly greater scalp penetration with cetosomal minoxidil; notably, once-daily cetosomal minoxidil achieved superior penetration compared to twice-daily conventional minoxidil, with no detectable systemic absorption. CONCLUSION: Cetosomal minoxidil enhances topical delivery via lipid fluidization, follicular targeting, and sustained release, offering improved efficacy, reduced systemic exposure, and the potential for less frequent dosing in AGA management.
Specific detection against PSA by using emission wavelength of carbon dots modulates TiO/InS-based photoelectrochemical aptasensor.
Li W, Zhao H, Qi H … +5 more , Jing T, Li J, Shen S, Zeng Q, Gao Y
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42070485 · Publisher ↗
Sensitive and precise detection of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is essential for the early diagnosis and monitoring of prostate cancer. However, conventional detection methods often suffer from limited sensitivity, po...
Sensitive and precise detection of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is essential for the early diagnosis and monitoring of prostate cancer. However, conventional detection methods often suffer from limited sensitivity, poor selectivity, highlighting the need for advanced sensing platforms. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensing achieve for PSA accurate detection due to its high sensitivity, low background noise, and simplicity. Nonetheless, enhancing light absorption and charge separation efficiency remains a major challenge. In this study, we addressed this challenge by modulating the emission wavelength of carbon dots (CDs) and integrating them into a TiO/InS-based heterojunction. Three types of CDs, including blue, green and red-emitting CDs (B-CDs, G-CDs, and R-CDs) were synthesized via a hydrothermal method and systematically optimized for photophysical and electronic performance. Among them, R-CDs exhibited superior visible-light absorption, enhanced electron transport, and abundant surface functional groups. When incorporated into a TiO/InS composite, R-CDs significantly boosted the photocurrent response (-112 μA), outperforming the B-CDs (-60 μA) and G-CDs (-88 μA) counterparts. Comprehensive characterizations confirmed the formation of a well-integrated ternary heterojunction with efficient charge separation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. A PEC aptasensor was subsequently developed based on the optimized TiO/InS/R-CDs photoelectrode for PSA detection. The sensor demonstrated a wide linear detection range (0.002-100 ng/mL), an ultralow detection limit (5.0 pg/mL), and excellent selectivity. It also exhibited strong stability and reproducibility, with recovery rates of 96.6-100.4% in spiked serum samples. This study not only presents a highly sensitive PEC platform for clinical diagnostics but also underscores the critical role of emission-wavelength modulation of CDs in the rational design of advanced PEC biosensors.
Topical PEGylated azelaic acid nanohybrids: A lipid-polymer hydrogel system for sustained dermal delivery in rosacea management.
Salmani A, Rehman U, Alqahtani T … +4 more , Alharbi HM, Gupta G, Goh KW, Kesharwani P
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42070484 · Publisher ↗
Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the central face characterized by persistent erythema, flushing, and inflammatory papules. Azelaic acid (Az) is a first-line topical therapy for papulopustular rosacea; howev...
Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the central face characterized by persistent erythema, flushing, and inflammatory papules. Azelaic acid (Az) is a first-line topical therapy for papulopustular rosacea; however, its clinical efficacy is limited by poor aqueous solubility and restricted penetration across the stratum corneum. To overcome these limitations, PEGylated lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (PALPHNs) encapsulating Az were developed and optimized using a Central Composite Design. The optimized PALPHNs exhibited a mean particle size of 179.6 ± 7.6 nm, narrow polydispersity (0.20 ± 0.03), stable zeta potential (-32.75 ± 1.4 mV), and high entrapment efficiency (92.13 ± 1.4%). Incorporation into a Carbopol hydrogel yielded a stable, skin-compatible formulation with physiological pH (5.84 ± 0.12). In vitro release studies demonstrated biphasic and sustained drug release, achieving 87.74 ± 0.002% cumulative release at 24 h compared with 72.21 ± 0.001% from conventional Az gel. Ex vivo permeation studies showed significantly enhanced Az penetration from the PALPHN gel (448.85 µg/cm²) vs the conventional gel (183.68 µg/cm²), with higher steady-state flux (18.21 vs 7.25 µg/cm²/h). Confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed deeper epidermal penetration (∼44 µm). Safety assessment using HET-CAM and skin irritation studies showed good tolerability (PII = 0.875). In vivo evaluation using a croton oil-induced ear edema model demonstrated greater reduction in ear thickness (0.98 mm) compared with conventional Az gel (1.08 mm). Overall, the PALPHN hydrogel represents a promising nanocarrier system for topical rosacea therapy.
Multifunctional polyamidoamine dendrimer/sodium alginate/γ-polyglutamic acid/amoxicillin hydrogel with enhanced hemostatic, antibacterial and wound healing properties for biomedical applications.
Jia X, Fan P, Guo J … +5 more , Wang X, Wang Z, Yan D, Wang S, Wang L
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42070483 · Publisher ↗
Uncontrolled hemorrhage and subsequent infection severely impair wound healing. This study developed a multifunctional Polyamidoamine Dendrimer/Sodium Alginate/γ-polyglutamic Acid/Amoxicillin (G3/SA/γ-PGA/AMX) hydrogel v...
Uncontrolled hemorrhage and subsequent infection severely impair wound healing. This study developed a multifunctional Polyamidoamine Dendrimer/Sodium Alginate/γ-polyglutamic Acid/Amoxicillin (G3/SA/γ-PGA/AMX) hydrogel via 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride and N-hydroxysuccinimide activated amidation. The hydrogel featured a porous structure, balanced mechanical properties, excellent self-healing ability, and injectability. In SD rat liver bleeding and tail amputation models, it significantly outperformed commercial gelatin sponge, reducing blood loss to 0.09 ± 0.02 g and 0.04 ± 0.01 g respectively, with hemostatic time shortened to 0.69 ± 0.17 min and 0.62 ± 0.10 min. Sustained amoxicillin release conferred over 96% bactericidal rate against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. It exhibited negligible hemolysis and high L929 cell viability (>90%), ensuring good biocompatibility. In C57 mice scald models, the hydrogel promoted rapid wound healing with a rate exceeding 98.91 ± 1.04% after 20 days, accelerating epidermal regeneration and dense collagen deposition. These results highlight the hydrogel's superior hemostatic and wound healing capabilities, making it a promising candidate for clinical wound management.
Herbal selaginella extract-derived carbon nanodots: A potential nano-therapeutic agent for atopic dermatitis.
Jiang Y, Wen Z, Wu Y … +11 more , He X, Tian T, Gao M, Zhang D, Tian N, Ma W, Zhu D, Li L, Lee Y, Jiang R, Lin Q
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42068621 · Publisher ↗
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disorder with rising global prevalence. Current treatments such as corticosteroids and antibiotics often lead to side effects, drug resistance, and limi...
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disorder with rising global prevalence. Current treatments such as corticosteroids and antibiotics often lead to side effects, drug resistance, and limited long-term safety. Natural compounds, including extracts from Selaginella, offer multi-targeted anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits but suffer from poor solubility and low bioavailability. To overcome these limitations, carbon nanodots using selaginella extract as the sole precursor (SSE-CDs) were synthesized. The SSE-CDs (2.5 ± 1.5 nm) possess abundant surface functional groups, negative surface charge and good enzyme-like activity. In vitro, SSE-CDs reduced reactive oxygen species, alleviated inflammation, and promoted proliferation in damaged HaCaT cells. In vivo, in an AD mouse model, SSE-CDs restored immune cell balance and normalized inflammatory cytokine expression. Mechanistic studies revealed that SSE-CDs inhibited phosphorylation of key proteins in the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Furthermore, a skincare lotion formulated with SSE-CDs showed therapeutic efficacy in an AD mouse model, suggesting its potential for dermatological applications. This study provides a preliminary demonstration of carbon nanodots as a promising anti-inflammatory strategy for AD management.
Synergistic transdermal antioxidant therapy with idebenone-mPDA microneedles: Implications for regenerative applications.
Gu H, Bao H, Zhou L … +7 more , Wang S, Sun X, Ning Z, Liu F, Yang L, Feng X, Chen Y
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42068620 · Publisher ↗
Oxidative stress can hinders tissue regeneration, thus highlighting the importance of localized antioxidant-based interventions. Herein, we engineered a synergistic skin delivery platform that combined idebenone (IDB)-lo...
Oxidative stress can hinders tissue regeneration, thus highlighting the importance of localized antioxidant-based interventions. Herein, we engineered a synergistic skin delivery platform that combined idebenone (IDB)-loaded anti-oxidative mesoporous polydopamine nanoparticles (mPDA) with dissolving microneedles (MNs) for localized anti-oxidative stress treatment. Through a soft-template synthesis, the mPDA nanocarrier was prepared, achieving a drug loading of 5.00% ± 0.26% and encapsulation efficiency of 88.36% ± 3.85%. Based on a central composite design-response surface methodology (CCD-RSM), the PVP/PVA‑based MN was optimized with robust mechanical strength to accommodate nanoparticles for skin penetration. The platform substantially enhanced the penetration depth in the skin by formation of microchannels for deep dermal delivery. Synergistic antioxidant activity was achieved, respectively scavenging 80.96% ± 4.71% DPPH radicals and 49.89% ± 4.32% hydroxyl radicals, while also greatly reducing intracellular ROS in H₂O₂-stressed PC12 cells. Additionally, it increases the neuronal differentiation rate and neurite length to two-fold, while also promoting keratinocyte migration for wound healing. This nanocomposite MN system provides enhanced localized drug delivery, combined antioxidant action, and simulation of tissue regeneration, offering a promising strategy for treatment of oxidative stress-impaired conditions.
Ag-containing high-entropy nitride coatings promote bone regeneration by mediating the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway.
Lv L, Dong C, Ma J … +3 more , Yang Z, Hu M, Wei X
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42068619 · Publisher ↗
Bone defect repair presents a significant clinical challenge in oral and maxillofacial surgery and orthopedics. Implant-associated infection and insufficient osseointegration often compromise clinical outcomes, while tra...
Bone defect repair presents a significant clinical challenge in oral and maxillofacial surgery and orthopedics. Implant-associated infection and insufficient osseointegration often compromise clinical outcomes, while traditional repair materials still struggle to simultaneously provide mechanical support, antibacterial activity, and osteogenic efficacy. This study employed magnetron sputtering to fabricate high-entropy nitride (HEN) coatings with varying silver (Ag) contents. Among these, the stable single-phase solid solution (TiZrNbHfTaAg)N coating with 5.7 at. percentage (at%) Ag exhibited outstanding comprehensive properties. This coating combines favorable biocompatibility with potent antibacterial activity, exhibiting antibacterial rates of 90.6% and 97.1% against common oral pathogens F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis, respectively. It also promotes osteoblast differentiation and mineralization by activating the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway, thereby upregulating the expression of genes and proteins associated with osteogenesis. In vivo validation using a rabbit tibia defect model showed that implantation of the (TiZrNbHfTaAg)N coating significantly improved indicators of bone regeneration and osseointegration strength. This coating offers a novel surface modification approach to address bone defect repair challenges through its "antibacterial-osteogenic" synergistic effect and bone regeneration mechanism mediated by the MAPK/ERK pathway, demonstrating considerable potential for clinical translation.
Microfluidic Gd-chelated hydrogel microspheres enable MRI-visible, image-guided photothermal chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer.
Wang W, Hua Q, Xia X … +3 more , Li J, Liu C, Wang B
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42068618 · Publisher ↗
Innovative biomaterials are playing an increasingly important role in biomedicine as drug-delivery carriers, tissue-repair scaffolds, and beyond. However, effective approaches for in situ, longitudinal monitoring of lesi...
Innovative biomaterials are playing an increasingly important role in biomedicine as drug-delivery carriers, tissue-repair scaffolds, and beyond. However, effective approaches for in situ, longitudinal monitoring of lesion initiation and progression in vivo during biomaterial-based interventions remain limited. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers high spatial resolution and excellent soft-tissue contrast. Here, gadolinium ions (Gd⁺) were incorporated into a double-network gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel microsphere platform for photothermal-chemotherapy. Monodisperse microspheres were fabricated via microfluidics and photocrosslinking to construct an MRI-visible biomaterial for pancreatic cancer treatment, enabling non-invasive, real-time tracking of both the material and therapeutic response. The microsphere morphology and photothermal performance were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), spectroscopy, and photothermal measurements, and a pancreatic cancer model was established for in vivo evaluation. Following in-situ injection of the hydrogel microspheres, serial MRI was performed to monitor intratumoral distribution and treatment outcomes. The microspheres exhibited an MRI contrast half-life of 32 h and supported continuous MR monitoring for 15 days, allowing clear visualization of tumor evolution. In addition, the system demonstrated favorable in vivo safety with no evident toxicity.
Balancing antibacterial effects and cytotoxicity through LIFT-fabricated AgNP microdomain arrays on PET.
Siegel J, Valovičová M, Lamich M … +7 more , Slepička P, Slepičková Kasálková N, Rimpelová S, Šlouf M, Sedlář A, Svobodová L, Bačáková L
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42068617 · Publisher ↗
Here, we report the first systematic study of two distinct configurations of hexagonal silver nanoparticle (AgNP) microdomain arrays prepared on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates using the laser-induced forward...
Here, we report the first systematic study of two distinct configurations of hexagonal silver nanoparticle (AgNP) microdomain arrays prepared on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates using the laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) technique. By varying the size and spacing of the domains, we investigated how geometric parameters govern nanoparticle distribution, surface morphology, and biological response. AFM, SEM, CLSM, EDX, and XPS analyses revealed a pronounced gradient of AgNP density across the patterned surfaces, with the highest roughness and nanoparticle aggregation in domain centers, reduced coverage at the edges, and detectable but sparse particles in inter-domain gaps. Cross-section TEM further confirmed that nanoparticles are confined to a thin surface layer, ensuring high biological availability while minimizing uncontrolled leaching. Antibacterial activity assessment revealed that both Staphylococcus epidermidis (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) were reduced below the detection limit within two hours across all patterned surfaces, irrespective of domain size. Cytotoxicity tests using normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) revealed that the cells adhered, proliferated, and remained metabolically active over a seven-day period, although their enzymatic activity and numbers were reduced compared to cells growing on pristine PET. These findings highlight the unique dual functionality of LIFT-fabricated AgNP microdomains, which exhibit rapid and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, combined with good cytocompatibility. The demonstrated ability to tune surface architecture by controlling domain size and spacing offers a promising pathway toward advanced antimicrobial coatings for medical devices and implants.
Carbon dot nanozymes: From synthetic control to catalytic mechanisms and sensing applications.
Yang Y
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42068616 · Publisher ↗
Carbon dot (CD)-based nanozymes have become promising substitutes to natural enzymes in high-performance analytical detection systems, due to their high-water solubility, tunable surface chemistry, and their ability to p...
Carbon dot (CD)-based nanozymes have become promising substitutes to natural enzymes in high-performance analytical detection systems, due to their high-water solubility, tunable surface chemistry, and their ability to produce multiple signaling outputs. It has been shown that CDs have a variety of enzyme-mimetic activities, such as peroxidase (POD), oxidase (OXD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activities, and can be used in bioassays and environmental monitoring. Although such progress has been made, there is still no detailed theoretical framework that explains the origins of their catalytic activity and the mechanisms that underlie sensing selectivity, thus restricting the rational design and optimization of CD-based nanozymes. This is a systematic review of the impact of precursor selection, reaction conditions, and doping strategies on the surface functional groups, defect structures, and metal active centers of CDs. It also explains how these structural features work synergistically to regulate electron transfer processes and active site formation. Furthermore, the review suggests that interfacial noncovalent interactions are the main determinants of the sensing selectivity of CD nanozymes, which is accompanied by molecular recognition processes and energy-level complementation. Recent advances in multimodal signaling strategies to detect complex systems are also mentioned. Lastly, the present issues and future outlooks in the controlled construction and sensing uses of CDs are also pointed out, which can be useful in the rational design and practical use of these new nanozymes.
Enhancing antitumor immunotherapy in head and neck cancer via ferroptosis-immune cascade activation by Fe-Shikonin nanomedicine.
Gao S, Wu Y, Yu Z … +5 more , Lv M, Liu L, Liu Y, Chen B, Yin W
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42068615 · Publisher ↗
Immunotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains limited, and ferroptosis has emerged as an attractive route to enhance tumor immunogenicity; however, efficient induction of ferroptosis in vivo whi...
Immunotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains limited, and ferroptosis has emerged as an attractive route to enhance tumor immunogenicity; however, efficient induction of ferroptosis in vivo while engaging adaptive immune responses remains challenging. Here, we report a Fe-Shikonin nanomedicine for HNSCC therapy that couples tumor microenvironment-responsive disassembly with ferroptosis-associated immune activation. In the glutathione-rich tumor milieu, Fe-Shikonin dissociates to release ferrous ions and activate Fenton reactions, thereby amplifying reactive oxygen species generation, lipid peroxidation, and GPX4 suppression, leading to pronounced ferroptosis. Ferroptosis-associated oxidative stress further elicits immunogenic cell death-related signals, promoting dendritic cell maturation in vitro and in vivo, and enhancing cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cell responses, with splenic CD8⁺ T cells increasing from 8.0% to 15.5%, as supported by flow cytometry and single-cell transcriptomic analysis. Collectively, our study shows that Fe-Shikonin can function as a therapeutic nanomedicine in HNSCC and provides evidence for a ferroptosis-coupled immune activation cascade, offering a strategy for coordinated tumor cell killing and immune modulation in this disease setting.
Microfluidic crystal tracking reveals an ionic-strength driven nucleation-growth switch in MICP.
Zhang M, Li Q, Wei B … +3 more , Gan Y, Liu D, Chen C
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42068614 · Publisher ↗
Kinetics of microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) in hypersaline matrices are difficult to resolve because bulk assays collapse nucleation and growth into endpoint metrics, thereby masking interfacial hetero...
Kinetics of microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) in hypersaline matrices are difficult to resolve because bulk assays collapse nucleation and growth into endpoint metrics, thereby masking interfacial heterogeneity. Here, we use an in situ microfluidic platform with time-lapse imaging and automated crystal tracking to probe how ionic strength reshapes bacteria-mineral biointerface interactions and thereby regulates CaCO precipitation by Staphylococcus succinus J3 across 0-100 g L NaCl. Microfluidic observations reveal an ionic-strength-dependent nucleation-growth switch: low salinity is associated with the rapid appearance of abundant microcrystals and early growth saturation, whereas high salinity yields fewer observable nuclei but sustained post-nucleation growth, producing sparse yet much larger, calcite-dominated crystals. These trends were interpreted qualitatively using literature-based concepts from classical nucleation theory and double-layer interactions, suggesting that low ionic strength favors nucleation, whereas high ionic strength suppresses nucleation but promotes growth on existing surfaces. To test this mechanism, we introduced low salinity biogenic nuclei into hypersaline produced water, thereby increasing hardness removal from 91.32% to 98.67% and generating larger particles with improved separability. Overall, this work provides a biointerface-based mechanistic rationale for tuning MICP under high ionic strength and highlights microfluidics as a practical tool for resolving biomineralization kinetics in complex fluids.
Flexible pressure sensor based on CNTs/MS composite for health monitoring.
Xia J, Li L, Feng W … +2 more , Zeng W, Zhou Q
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42068613 · Publisher ↗
Flexible sensors based on the piezoresistive principle are widely used in health monitoring and motion tracking due to their ability to accurately capture subtle pressure changes and their excellent conformability. Howev...
Flexible sensors based on the piezoresistive principle are widely used in health monitoring and motion tracking due to their ability to accurately capture subtle pressure changes and their excellent conformability. However, designing flexible pressure sensors with high stability and a simple manufacturing process remains a significant challenge. In this study, a melamine sponge (MS) serves as the flexible substrate. A three-dimensional conductive network is constructed through the innovative incorporation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Concurrently, the piezoresistive properties of the composite are significantly enhanced by introducing a dual-functional filler system comprising zinc oxide (ZnO) and conductive polyaniline (PANI). The material composition was optimized using an orthogonal experimental design. The fabricated sensor, based on the ZnO-PANI modified CNTs/MS composite, demonstrates a rapid response time of 60 ms(±3.1 ms) and a relaxation time of 50 ms(±4.3 ms). It exhibits a high sensitivity of 31.261 kPa (±0.3 kPa) within a pressure range of 0-3 kPa. A pressure testing system incorporating an independent SDNT1608 thermistor was developed, enabling simultaneous acquisition of pressure and temperature parameters. Furthermore, this system preliminarily demonstrated the feasibility of real-time monitoring of various human physiological signals, including radial artery pulse waveforms, abdominal respiration, and joint movement, serving as a laboratory-level proof-of-concept for potential health monitoring.
Design and mechanistic evaluation of charge-converting fusogenic liposomes for efficient nucleic acid delivery.
Polidori I, Truszkowska M, Richter LM … +1 more , Bernkop-Schnürch A
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42068612 · Publisher ↗
Efficient cytosolic delivery of nucleic acids is critically limited by poor endosomal escape. While the cationic surface of nanocarriers can enhance endosomal destabilization, these systems suffer from rapid clearance an...
Efficient cytosolic delivery of nucleic acids is critically limited by poor endosomal escape. While the cationic surface of nanocarriers can enhance endosomal destabilization, these systems suffer from rapid clearance and protein corona formation, a long-standing challenge known as the polycation dilemma. Charge-converting nanocarriers can mitigate this issue by masking positive charges during circulation; however, they remain constrained by inefficient endosomal escape. To overcome this limiting step, we designed enzyme-responsive, charge-converting fusogenic liposomes that combine polyphosphate coatings with DOPE/DOTAP-based fusogenic liposomes. The polyphosphate suppresses cationic charge during circulation, while alkaline-phosphatase-mediated dephosphorylation restores the cationic charge required for membrane fusion. Liposomes were systematically characterized for size, zeta-potential, and phosphate-release-induced charge conversion. Their interaction with Caco-2 cells was mechanistically investigated using confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and Förster resonance energy transfer, demonstrating the existence of a fusion-driven uptake. Upon loading with plasmid DNA, the most fusogenic formulations enabled a rapid onset of GFP expression consistent with direct cytosolic access. Overall, this work provides a mechanistic investigation of polyphosphate-coated fusogenic liposomes and demonstrates that enzyme-triggered charge conversion can be coupled to membrane fusion to facilitate cytosolic delivery.
Ultrasound-responsive BTO@MSN-Cu/chitosan coatings on titanium implants with synergistic antibacterial and angiogenic effects.
Jiang X, Deng L, Zhang Y … +4 more , Bao Y, Guo M, Wu H, Chen Q
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42066386 · Publisher ↗
Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a promising strategy for treating implant-associated infections (IAIs), yet achieving concurrent antibacterial efficacy and tissue regeneration remains challenging. In this study, piezoelectr...
Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a promising strategy for treating implant-associated infections (IAIs), yet achieving concurrent antibacterial efficacy and tissue regeneration remains challenging. In this study, piezoelectric BaTiO (BTO) nanoparticles were encapsulated within Cu-doped mesoporous silica (MSN) via a sol-gel method to construct core-shell BTO@MSN-Cu nanoparticles, which were subsequently electrophoretically co-deposited with chitosan onto titanium (Ti) substrates to form a multifunctional coating. Under ultrasound (US) irradiation, the BTO core generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) via piezocatalysis, while the MSN shell enabled controlled and stimulus-responsive release of Cu ions. Theoretical calculations revealed that the core-shell heterostructure enhances piezoelectric potential and charge separation. The resulting coating exhibited potent antibacterial efficiency (>99% against S. aureus, >95% against E. coli), while also supporting osteoblast adhesion and proliferation and enhancing endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis. Overall, this chitosan/BTO@MSN-Cu coating integrates US-activated sonodynamic action and Cu ion therapy to provide a dual-modal strategy for infection control and tissue repair in IAIs.
Preparation of M2 macrophage membrane hybrid lipid nanoparticles based on microfluidic device for atherosclerosis treatment.
Liu Q, Qiao L, Peng XF … +4 more , Chang SQ, Fang X, Li YJ, Huang NP
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42066385 · Publisher ↗
With the continuous advancement of bionanomaterial technology, the design and fabrication strategies of drug delivery systems have undergone significant strategic transformations and innovations. Herein, we report a micr...
With the continuous advancement of bionanomaterial technology, the design and fabrication strategies of drug delivery systems have undergone significant strategic transformations and innovations. Herein, we report a microfluidic chip that enables one-step production of cell membrane hybrid lipid nanoparticles by fusing synthetic phospholipids with M2-macrophage membrane fragments and simultaneously encapsulating simvastatin and rapamycin. This greatly simplifies the preparation process, improves efficiency and produces M2-macrophage-membrane hybrid lipid nanoparticles loaded with simvastatin and rapamycin (M2LNPs@SIM&RAPA) with small particle size, homogeneous distribution and enhanced cumulative release in vitro. Western blotting and SDS-PAGE confirm the successful embedding of M2-membrane proteins. The formulation merges the long-circulating stability of synthetic phospholipids with the inflammation-targeting capacity and biocompatibility of M2 macrophage membranes. Stability tests and cell uptake experiments both proved its excellent storage stability and inflammation targeting. Cell cytotoxicity tests optimized the safe dosages of simvastatin and rapamycin. In the subsequent experiments, M2LNPs@SIM&RAPA could significantly reduce the expression of TNF-α in inflammatory cells and inhibit the formation of lipid droplets in foam cells, demonstrating its excellent anti-inflammatory activity and enhanced cholesterol excretion ability. In summary, the M2LNPs@SIM&RAPA prepared based on microfluidics can precisely regulate lipid metabolism and inflammatory responses through the synergistic effect of low-dose drugs, and is expected to provide a theoretical basis for the future treatment of atherosclerosis.
HPLA-Alg core-shell microspheres enable dual-level BMP-2 delivery on porous Ti6Al4V scaffolds for sustained pro-osteogenic activity.
Ma W, Zhang X, Cen J … +5 more , Chen Q, Chen K, Feng C, Zhang H, Zhang D
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42066384 · Publisher ↗
Efficient bone regeneration requires scaffolds that combine mechanical strength with controlled osteoinductive factor delivery. Here, we present a porous Ti6Al4V scaffold (PXTC4) functionalized with polydopamine and inte...
Efficient bone regeneration requires scaffolds that combine mechanical strength with controlled osteoinductive factor delivery. Here, we present a porous Ti6Al4V scaffold (PXTC4) functionalized with polydopamine and integrated with dual-level BMP2-PLA-Alg core-shell microspheres (BMP2-HPLA-Alg) for sustained BMP2 release. The PXTC4 scaffold exhibited high porosity (∼75%) and an elastic modulus (∼6.5 GPa) compatible with cortical bone, while the microspheres ensured heparin-mediated BMP2 adsorption, tunable degradation, and reduced initial burst release by 53.5% compared to the single-level BMP2-Alg microspheres. In vitro studies demonstrated enhanced MC3T3-E1 adhesion, proliferation, cytoskeletal organization, early osteogenic differentiation, and late-stage matrix mineralization. These results indicate that BMP2 synergizes with scaffold topography to create a favorable osteogenic microenvironment. This BMP2-HPLA-Alg microsphere-functionalized porous Ti6Al4V scaffold provides a robust platform with mechanical stability and sustained pro-osteogenic activity, offering a promising strategy for bone regeneration that warrants further in vivo investigation.
Dynamic PEGDA-GelMA-HAMA microcarriers for efficient ex vivo expansion of human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells.
Liu Y, Guo M, Shi L … +12 more , Yu L, Shen J, Li J, Lv Y, Cui T, Zhao L, Wang H, Zhou J, Yue W, Lyu Z, Qu M, Xi J
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42061171 · Publisher ↗
The clinical demand for hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) far exceeds that of the available sources, driving the need for efficient ex vivo expansion technologies. A central challenge is the design of culture systems that...
The clinical demand for hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) far exceeds that of the available sources, driving the need for efficient ex vivo expansion technologies. A central challenge is the design of culture systems that promote HSCs proliferation while inhibiting differentiation, a balance that is poorly maintained in conventional static cultures. In this study, we engineered a novel biomimetic microcarrier (denoted as P7G3H2) by synthesizing a composite hydrogel from poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), and hyaluronic acid methacryloyl (HAMA). This material combination was designed to mimic the key aspects of the bone marrow niche, providing mechanical tunability (PEGDA), cell-adhesive motifs (GelMA), and bioactive signaling engagement (HAMA). We established a P7G3H2 microcarrier-based dynamic culture system to expand human umbilical cord blood-derived hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). The new system yielded 3.76 times more total CD34CD38 cells than the control group and enhanced the proportion of primitive cells by approximately 74% compared to controls after 7 days of expansion. The expanded cells preserved intrinsic multipotency and multi-lineage differentiation potential, while demonstrating a marked propensity for spontaneous erythroid differentiation during prolonged culture. This study demonstrates that a rationally designed biomaterial platform within a dynamic culture environment can significantly improve the efficiency and quality of HSPCs expansion, offering a promising strategy for scalable HSCs production.
NO-releasing aza-BODIPY sensitizers: Enabling cascade gas-photothermal synergistic therapy for hypoxic tumors.
Bai R, Wang Z, Wang K … +5 more , Xu K, Di H, Wang S, Zhao M, Xu Y
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42061170 · Publisher ↗
Activatable theranostic agents for the cascade gas therapy (GT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) of hypoxic tumors hold great promise for highly efficient tumor treatment. Based on the mechanism that the transformation of...
Activatable theranostic agents for the cascade gas therapy (GT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) of hypoxic tumors hold great promise for highly efficient tumor treatment. Based on the mechanism that the transformation of push-pull electron functional groups in the aza-BODIPY skeleton is accompanied by a significant red-shift in absorption/emission spectra, and that the -NNO group enables light-controlled release of nitric oxide (NO), this study constructs an activatable cascade therapeutic platform by introducing -NNO to aza-BODIPY core (forming BR-NO). Under light triggering, BR-NO releases NO and simultaneously generates a photothermal agent with high heat generation performance. Especially, BR-NO nanoparticles with good water solubility, excellent biocompatibility, and negligible dark toxicity still retain the ability for sustained NO release and subsequently generate a highly efficient photothermal agent. This ensures effective tumor growth inhibition and considerably improved mouse survival rates through cascade GT and PTT under the guidance of photoacoustic imaging. This study not only provides a rational design strategy for developing efficient tumor cascade therapy platforms but also validates its feasibility and application value as a potential phototheranostic agent in biomedical applications.
A Shikonin-loaded smart dressing integrating self-adaptive release, visual monitoring, and enhanced healing for diabetic wounds.
Liu M, Yi Z, Yao Z … +8 more , Li L, Hu Y, Xu J, Wen M, Shen S, Xie H, Sheng Y, Shen L
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces · 2026 Sep · PMID 42061169 · Publisher ↗
Diabetic wounds, characterized by hyperglycemic exudate and susceptibility to infection, constitute a significant clinical challenge that severely impedes healing. Hence, advanced dressings designed for diabetic wound ma...
Diabetic wounds, characterized by hyperglycemic exudate and susceptibility to infection, constitute a significant clinical challenge that severely impedes healing. Hence, advanced dressings designed for diabetic wound management are urgently required. To address the challenges, a novel bilayer nanofiber dressing encapsulating Shikonin is developed in this work. The special bilayer structure allows for effective drainage of the exudate. By encapsulating Shikonin within a tailored polymer matrix, the dressing can leverage its pH-responsive properties to achieve both self-adaptive drug release (rapid in infected/alkaline wounds, sustained in healing/acidic wounds) and real-time visual monitoring of wound status via color change. In vitro and in vivo assays confirmed its superior antibacterial, antioxidant, and healing performance versus commercial gauze. Our findings illustrate that strategic drug selection enables a single dressing platform to integrate multiple functions, offering novel design strategies for developing next-generation smart wound dressings.
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