J Biomed Mater Res A [JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
A ROS-Responsive Hydrogel Microneedle System Co-Delivering Tofacitinib and Azelaic Acid for Enhanced Targeted Therapy of Rosacea.
Yu Y, Ding X, Fan Y … +2 more , Huang Y, Xu D
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Feb · PMID 41586451 · Publisher ↗
Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition primarily affecting the face, characterized by symptoms such as persistent redness, visible blood vessels, papules, and pustules. Current treatments, including topical age...
Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition primarily affecting the face, characterized by symptoms such as persistent redness, visible blood vessels, papules, and pustules. Current treatments, including topical agents and systemic antibiotics, are often limited by poor skin penetration, local irritation, or the risk of systemic adverse effects and antibiotic resistance. This study designed, fabricated, and evaluated a novel ROS-responsive hydrogel microneedle (MN) system for the co-delivery of tofacitinib (a JAK inhibitor) and azelaic acid (A ZA) to treat rosacea. The hypothesis was that this Tofa/AZA@HPA-MN platform would enable triggered drug release in the high-ROS environment of inflamed skin, enhancing therapeutic efficacy and safety compared to conventional topical delivery. Topical tofacitinib and AZA were found to ameliorate LL37-induced murine rosacea-like inflammation, partly via JAK/STAT inhibition. A ROS-responsive hydrogel (HPA) was synthesized and fabricated into robust MNs, demonstrating effective skin penetration and retention. In vitro, these MNs displayed accelerated drug release under oxidative conditions and protected keratinocytes from HO-induced stress. In vivo, the Tofa/AZA@HPA-MNs proved superior to conventional topical Tofa + AZA and empty MNs, significantly reducing inflammation, tissue ROS levels, and JAK/STAT activation in a rosacea model. Crucially, safety assessments revealed no significant systemic toxicity, addressing the major translational concern regarding the systemic risks of JAK inhibitors. The developed system offers a promising, safe, and more effective targeted therapeutic strategy for rosacea by enabling triggered drug release directly within the inflamed skin.
Mechanical Cues Regulate Estrogen and Progesterone-Induced Nascent ECM Deposition by Human Endometrial Stromal Fibroblasts.
Hinds GK, Velieva A, Liu JY … +3 more , Roy A, Chavali R, Loebel C
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Feb · PMID 41586449 · Publisher ↗
The endometrium, the mucosal lining of the uterus, is a highly regenerative tissue that undergoes cyclic remodeling guided by tightly regulated levels of estrogen and progesterone. Stromal cells, including fibroblasts, a...
The endometrium, the mucosal lining of the uterus, is a highly regenerative tissue that undergoes cyclic remodeling guided by tightly regulated levels of estrogen and progesterone. Stromal cells, including fibroblasts, are embedded within the connective tissue of the endometrium and contribute to the rapidly changing extracellular matrix (ECM). During the secretory phase, high levels of progesterone induce decidualization of endometrial fibroblasts, which changes their morphology and protein secretion. While it has been shown that the mechanical properties of endometrial tissue, such as the elastic modulus, also contribute to tissue homeostasis and pathology, the interplay between hormones and tissue modulus in contributing to ECM remodeling remains unknown. To address this, we used hydrogels of varying elastic moduli (5 and 15 kPa) to induce decidualization of endometrial fibroblasts. Using metabolic labeling of glycosylated nascent ECM proteins, we then visualized and measured the deposition of newly secreted (nascent) ECM proteins during decidualization. In addition, we designed an automated ImageJ-based workflow for unbiased quantification of nascent ECM deposition. Our results demonstrate that both 5 and 15 kPa hydrogels support decidualization of endometrial stromal fibroblasts as shown by an increase in cell flattening and prolactin secretion. While increased hydrogel modulus alone enhances nascent ECM deposition, decidualization produces an additional increase that converges to similar levels regardless of the initial hydrogel modulus. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that endometrial stromal fibroblasts deposit nascent ECM that is enhanced during decidualization. These observations may provide new insights toward future studies addressing the mechanisms of ECM remodeling in endometrial tissue.
Microfluidic Biomaterials for Next-Generation Biomedical Platforms: Advances in Fabrication, Functionality, and Applications.
Xie B, Lin J, Cui L … +2 more , Shi X, Wu S
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Feb · PMID 41568427 · Publisher ↗
Microfluidic technology has transformed biomedicine, environmental monitoring, and chemical analysis by enabling precise fluid control at the microliter to picoliter scale. As innovations in precision medicine, organ-on-...
Microfluidic technology has transformed biomedicine, environmental monitoring, and chemical analysis by enabling precise fluid control at the microliter to picoliter scale. As innovations in precision medicine, organ-on-a-chip systems, and personalized therapies accelerate, microfluidic biomaterials have become pivotal to advancing these interdisciplinary fields. These materials must possess superior mechanical strength and biocompatibility, while integrating seamlessly with microfluidic architectures to support dynamic microenvironments, high-throughput operations, and biomimetic functionalities. This review highlights recent advances in microfluidic biomaterials across three key areas: fabrication techniques (e.g., 3D printing, laser ablation, and paper-based platforms), functional enhancements (e.g., stimuli-responsive materials, surface engineering, and embedded sensors), and diverse biomedical applications (e.g., diagnostics, drug delivery, and tissue engineering). Additionally, emerging directions such as AI-assisted design, modular chip systems, and translational challenges are discussed. By addressing current gaps in standardization, reproducibility, and scale-up, this review outlines a roadmap for the future of microfluidic biomaterials in enabling next-generation healthcare, sustainable diagnostics, and intelligent biomedical devices.
From Skin to Nerve: Mapping Tissue-Specific Innovations in Gelatin-Dopamine Hydrogel Platforms.
Dinu AI, Gherghinescu MM, Lungu A … +1 more , Iovu H
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Feb · PMID 41568421 · Publisher ↗
The biomimetic adhesive qualities, biocompatibility, and multifunctionality of biomaterials containing gelatin and dopamine have propelled them to the forefront of regenerative medicine. This review's goal involves inves...
The biomimetic adhesive qualities, biocompatibility, and multifunctionality of biomaterials containing gelatin and dopamine have propelled them to the forefront of regenerative medicine. This review's goal involves investigating all the published studies about gelatin-dopamine systems in great detail, with a focus on how they may be used in medicine on many different types of tissue. By designing discussion around distinct tissues, specifically skin, bone, neural tissue, and cardiovascular tissue, we provide an in-depth examination of how dopamine affects material properties like adhesion, mechanical strength, antioxidant capacity, and self-healing behavior. The discussion encompasses key fabrication strategies, such as grafting methods, crosslinking mechanisms, and biomaterial processing. The review emphasizes cell-material interactions, in vitro and in vivo performance, and the therapeutic outcomes observed in preclinical studies. To advance the next generation of customized regenerative therapies, this work not only synthesizes existing knowledge on gelatin-dopamine biomaterials but also suggests future research directions, such as integrating cutting-edge technologies like nanocomposites, 3D bioprinting, and smart drug delivery systems.
Effects of Micropore Size Distribution in Carbonate Apatite Honeycomb Granules on Bone Replacement.
Hayashi K, Kishida R, Ishikawa K
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Feb · PMID 41556497 · Publisher ↗
Successful bone defect repair requires understanding both the role of micropores smaller than 10 μm and that of macropores. Although the effects of micropore volume have previously been reported, the influence of micropo...
Successful bone defect repair requires understanding both the role of micropores smaller than 10 μm and that of macropores. Although the effects of micropore volume have previously been reported, the influence of micropore size distribution remains unclear owing to the difficulty of independently varying the distribution of the total micropore volume. In this study, carbonate apatite (CAp) granules were synthesized from calcium sulfate (CS) and calcium hydroxide (CH) precursors, yielding distinct micropore size distributions while maintaining an equivalent overall micropore volume among the materials. The granules exhibited a honeycomb (HC) macrostructure that facilitated cellular and tissue infiltration. CS- and CH-derived CAp HC granules (CS-CAp and CH-CAp) exhibited identical carbonate content (12%), micropore volume (0.2 cm/g), and macropore size (135 μm), differing only in their micropore size distribution. Specifically, CS-CAp exhibited three distinct modes in pore size distribution, with the first, second, and third most abundant peaks at ≈350, 900, and 7 nm, respectively, whereas CH-CAp showed peaks at ≈100, 200, and 20 nm. When implanted into critical-sized defects in rabbit femurs, CS-CAp induced more than fourfold greater new bone formation than CH-CAp at both 4 and 12 weeks. Although no significant difference in material resorption was observed at 4 weeks, CS-CAp showed significantly less residual material at 12 weeks. Moreover, CS-CAp was replaced predominantly by bone, whereas CH-CAp was primarily replaced by adipose tissue. These findings demonstrate that micropore size distribution determines the type and extent of tissue regeneration and the rate of material replacement, providing valuable insight for the micropore design of synthetic bone grafts.
Improved Conversion of Carbon Quantum Dots From Tulsi Leaves via Hydrothermal Processing for Antibacterial and In Vivo Wound Healing Applications.
Tripathi S, Mallick Choudhury A, Bauri S … +2 more , Devi A, Maiti P
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Feb · PMID 41556480 · Publisher ↗
The increasing demand for sustainable nanomaterials with effective antibacterial and wound-healing potential motivated the development of carbon quantum dots synthesized through an improved hydrothermal conversion approa...
The increasing demand for sustainable nanomaterials with effective antibacterial and wound-healing potential motivated the development of carbon quantum dots synthesized through an improved hydrothermal conversion approach using natural precursors such as Tulsi leaves. The synthesis conditions were optimized to achieve improved conversion efficiency and a higher number density of CQDs. The carbon quantum dots are synthesized with varying number density and size and verified using a variety of structural, chemical, and thermal analyses. The size and shape of the quantum dots are further examined through various imaging techniques like TEM, SEM, and AFM. The photoluminescence investigation confirms the broad range of excitation-emission phenomenon as a function of number density and size. The electrochemical behavior is further worked out to find their electronic, ionic, and redox properties. The antibacterial activity of the quantum dots against S. aureus has been investigated in detail, and their ability to effectively cure bacterial wounds in a rat model has also been examined. The swab test is used to further investigate the bacterial killing efficiency by culturing the bacterial colonies on an agar plate. In brief, strong and tuned fluorescence and antibacterial behavior of quantum dots from natural resources can be a potential biomaterial.
Electrocautery Alters the Near-Surface Microstructure, Phases, Composition, and Hardness of Ti-6Al-4V.
Karshenas M, Kurtz PW, Impergre A … +1 more , Gilbert JL
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Jan · PMID 41510911 · Publisher ↗
Despite the high success rates of total joint arthroplasty procedures, including total knee and hip replacements, implant failures still occur. This study investigated a potential, yet underrecognized, cause of implant f...
Despite the high success rates of total joint arthroplasty procedures, including total knee and hip replacements, implant failures still occur. This study investigated a potential, yet underrecognized, cause of implant failure: unintentional damage from the contact of electrosurgical blades with metal implant alloys. To understand this phenomenon, electrocautery damage (ECD) was induced to Ti-6Al-4V discs to evaluate microstructural changes to the surface and subsurface using digital optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. We assessed local depth-dependent single-asperity hardness of the cross-sectioned samples through the ECD site. ECD caused permanent changes in the microstructure up to 300 μm beneath the surface, transforming the grain structure in a depth-dependent manner into a predominantly martensitic form and a concurrent modification of the β-phase morphology. Within the top 50 μm, surface melting and the formation of oxide and nitride phases was seen. Transferred silicon, carbon, and iron particles from the electrosurgical blade were detected in the melted and oxidized surface layer. Melt-resolidified particles and evidence of alloy mixing between the blade and substrate was documented. Surface cracking penetrating tens of microns into the surface was observed. Hardness measurements revealed a substantial increase in the ECD-affected zone, reaching up to 8.5 GPa at 130 μm depth, compared to a bulk hardness of 2.7 GPa (p = 0.001). These findings systematically characterize electrocautery-induced subsurface transformations in Ti-6Al-4V, highlighting a previously underrecognized mechanism of implant surface embrittlement that may have significant implications for long-term arthroplasty performance and surgical technique.
Enhanced Photocatalytic Blood Oxygenation on Ag Nanoparticles Decorated TiO Nanotubes.
Garlapally R, Malkajgiri KK, Vislawath S … +2 more , Burgula S, Banki MR
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Jan · PMID 41499223 · Publisher ↗
Blood oxygenation through the photocatalytic action can be a remarkable phenomenon that holds great potential for the development of artificial lung-assist devices. This process necessitates the use of a semiconductor an...
Blood oxygenation through the photocatalytic action can be a remarkable phenomenon that holds great potential for the development of artificial lung-assist devices. This process necessitates the use of a semiconductor and a suitable light source. In this work, we propose silver nanoparticles decorated TiO nanotubes (Ag-TNTs) as a photocatalyst. Initially, we fabricated TiO nanotubes through an electrochemical anodization process. Subsequently, silver nanoparticles are loaded onto the TNTs using a UV-light-assisted chemical bath technique. The obtained Ag-TNTs were characterized using the techniques, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Hemolysis activity was studied to investigate the biocompatibility of the fabricated samples. For blood oxygenation, the Ag-TNTs are overlaid with blood and exposed to a UV lamp to initiate the photocatalytic reaction. Investigation of the optical absorption studies conducted at regular intervals on the diluted blood samples shows an enhancement in the blood oxygenation (the absorption value at 415 nm is increased from 0.99 to 3.10 ± 0.11), which is also evident in the standard hemoglobin test (15.7-19.9 g/dL). The structure of red blood cells was examined using an optical microscope, and it was observed that there was no hemolysis following the photocatalytic process.
Biomechanical and Functional Response of 3D Printed Materials and Silicone Elastomers Compared to Human Aortic Tissues.
Tan V, Eliathamby D, Simmons CA … +2 more , Chung J, Khan MO
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Jan · PMID 41499215 · Publisher ↗
Synthetic materials that mimic the biomechanical and functional response of vascular tissues have applications in medical device testing and surgical training. 3D printing has emerged as a key technology to build complex...
Synthetic materials that mimic the biomechanical and functional response of vascular tissues have applications in medical device testing and surgical training. 3D printing has emerged as a key technology to build complex patient-specific anatomical models with multiple materials to mimic a range of tissue types. However, the capability of 3D printing materials to replicate the mechanical and functional response of native vascular tissues is not clear. The primary goal of this study was to compare the biomechanical response of synthetic 3D printed and polymeric materials against native aortic tissues. Toward this goal, tissue samples from the inner and outer curvature of ascending aorta were obtained from 20 healthy aortic donors. Bi-axial testing was performed on native aortic tissues, Stratasys TissueMatrix series, and silicone samples (Gluck Medical, Soul, Korea). Adult and pediatric aortic phantom with semilunar valves were 3D printed with TissueMatrix materials to perform functional testing. Our findings demonstrated that the elastic modulus of the 3D printed TissueMatrix materials was significantly higher than native aortic tissues at low tangent and high tangent modulus while no significant differences were found for silicone. Mean transvalvular pressure gradients in 3D printed aortic phantoms ranged from 3.5 mmHg to 6 mmHg for Reynolds number ranging from 2000 to 3500, respectively and increased to 25 mmHg at Reynolds number of 7000. 3D printed valves remained intact without fracture or tear even at high Reynolds number. Our work highlights that 3D printed materials are stiffer compared to native tissues with functional responses that resemble stiff native valves. Future work should focus on developing more compliant material mixtures that could ultimately support in device simulations and procedural planning.
Nonionic Surfactant as a Tool to Modify Electrospun Fiber Properties for In Vitro Fibrous Connective Tissue Models.
Meinhold KL, Robinson JL
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Jan · PMID 41486856 · Full text
Injuries to dense connective tissues, including the knee menisci, contribute to altered joint biomechanics and degeneration. Though meniscal tears are the most common intra-articular knee injury, potential drivers of reg...
Injuries to dense connective tissues, including the knee menisci, contribute to altered joint biomechanics and degeneration. Though meniscal tears are the most common intra-articular knee injury, potential drivers of regenerative treatments remain unknown. Tissue culture scaffolds which effectively recapitulate the fibrous, anisotropic structure and mechanics of meniscus tissue are essential components for in vitro models to investigate meniscus regeneration. Electrospinning poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) is commonly employed to create meniscus-mimetic scaffolds. However, PCL fiber hydrophobicity often requires post-fabrication treatment to establish adequate hydrophilicity for processing and efficacy in vitro. Nonionic surfactants, like Span80, are common additives in the electrospinning process that are leveraged to increase hydrophilicity in a single step. This study investigates the effects of increasing Span80 concentration, in both unaligned and aligned electrospun fibers, on sample morphology (fiber diameter, alignment), tensile mechanical properties, surface properties (wettability via water contact angle, serum protein adsorption), and meniscal cell adhesion and matrix protein production. A low concentration of Span80 (10%) had a minimal impact on fiber diameter, fiber alignment, and tensile properties, while significantly increasing sample wettability and meniscal cell adhesion and fibronectin production. On the other hand, a higher Span80 concentration (30%) significantly decreased fiber diameter, tensile properties, and cell numbers, especially in aligned scaffolds. Overall, these results illustrate the utility of Span80, in a concentration dependent manner, for modulating surface wettability, protein adsorption, and tensile properties of meniscus-mimetic fibrous scaffolds while maintaining the material-cell compatibility, representing an adaptable in vitro model designed to interrogate cell behavior in a biologically relevant environment.
Influence of Sterilization Regime on Mechanical Properties of Calcium Carbonate-Reinforced Polycaprolactone Scaffolds for Bone Regeneration.
Benecke L, Lohrberg O, Alt F … +4 more , Müller MT, Cherif C, Neunzehn J, Kruppke B
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Jan · PMID 41485114 · Publisher ↗
Sterilization is of utmost importance for the clinical application of biomaterials. Here, we present our findings on the influence of various sterilization regimes on the mechanical properties and the degradation of calc...
Sterilization is of utmost importance for the clinical application of biomaterials. Here, we present our findings on the influence of various sterilization regimes on the mechanical properties and the degradation of calcium carbonate reinforced polycaprolactone (PCL), a commonly used biomaterial for example, for bone substitution. Furthermore, studies on the impact of additives' specific surface were included. It was shown that both gamma and electron beam sterilization with direct and pulsed application of 25 kGy radiation resulted in a decrease of M and an increase of M, corresponding to the occurrence of chain scission and branching reactions, respectively. Here, pulsation and the use of gamma rays were shown to decrease the impact of sterilization on molecular weight. Overall, sterilization resulted in an increase of Young's moduli in bulk specimens. Identical observations were made regarding an increase in specific additive surface area. In 3D-printed scaffolds, however, no influence of sterilization regime or additive surface area on the mechanical properties was observed. During degradation (hydrolysis), chain scission and branching reactions have contrary effects regarding degradation velocity. Therefore, gamma-sterilized specimens showed no effect, which was attributed to an offset of the effects of both modifications. Electron beam sterilization, however, inhibited degradation due to increased PCL branching reactions. This effect could be circumvented by additives with high specific surface, which showed reduced particle-matrix interaction after electron beam sterilization, attributed to the generation of characteristic high-energy X-ray radiation and radicals in close proximity to calcium carbonate particles.
Vitamin-B6 Pretreated Bovine Pericardial Bioprosthetic Heart Valve Leaflets Demonstrate Reduced Platelet Adhesion and Activation.
Toomey NT, Thomas TE, Hall EJ … +6 more , Nagaswami C, Alferiev I, Chen JM, Ferrari G, Stachelek SJ, Levy RJ
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Jan · PMID 41481804 · Full text
Bioprosthetic heart valves (BHV) fabricated from heterograft tissue such as glutaraldehyde fixed bovine pericardium (BP), while less thrombogenic than mechanical valve prostheses, nevertheless demonstrate a significant r...
Bioprosthetic heart valves (BHV) fabricated from heterograft tissue such as glutaraldehyde fixed bovine pericardium (BP), while less thrombogenic than mechanical valve prostheses, nevertheless demonstrate a significant risk for platelet initiated thromboembolic events. We showed previously using in vitro and in vivo model systems that pyridoxamine (PYR), a Vitamin B6 vitamer, used as a BP pretreatment, mitigated advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation. PYR is also known to inhibit platelet aggregation. In the present studies, both BP and collagen-coated polyvinyl chloride tubing (PVC-collagen) were fixed with glutaraldehyde and were either untreated or pretreated with PYR; both the PYR content and binding stability were quantitated. PYR-BP binding stability was demonstrated in vitro over 28 days. Methylglyoxal (MGO), a representative AGE, was used to modify BP and PVC-collagen for use in platelet activation studies in an ex vivo flow loop with human whole blood. MGO modified collagen-coated PVC demonstrated both increased platelet activation, per P-selectin expression, and increased platelet adhesion compared to non-MGO modified samples. PYR pretreatment of either collagen-coated PVC or BP, with or without MGO exposure, significantly mitigated these effects. In conclusion, BP and collagen surfaces are susceptible to platelet activation and adhesion that is effectively mitigated by vitamin B6.
Advances in 3D Organoids and Organ-on-a-Chip Systems for Biomedical Research.
Sakthivel V, Dharshan SS, Namasivayam SKR … +1 more , Arockiaraj J
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Jan · PMID 41481795 · Publisher ↗
Traditional 2D cell cultures and animal models have served as the foundations of biomedical research. These have significant limitations in modeling human physiology and predicting outcomes of therapy. Recent development...
Traditional 2D cell cultures and animal models have served as the foundations of biomedical research. These have significant limitations in modeling human physiology and predicting outcomes of therapy. Recent developments in 3D organoids and organ-on-chip technologies have shifted the field by enabling human relevant dynamic and scalable platforms for disease modeling and drug discovery and toxicity evaluation. Organoids derived from either stem cells or patient samples accurately recreate complex cellular structure and function found in human organs. The combination of organoids with organ-on-chip systems, or micro-engineered devices that closely simulate the interactions between distinct organ types including tissue to tissue as well as fluids and mechanical forces, allows researchers to continually monitor and manipulate the immediate environment of cells. The focus of this study will be on the underlying technologies for the manufacture and use of these systems as well as the main applications of these systems. Future research will include the development of multi-organ chips, artificial intelligence (AI), and biosensors. This study also illustrates how organoids and organ-on-chip technologies will enable the modeling and mimicking of common neurological, liver, gut, heart, cancer, and infectious diseases, as well as their application for high-throughput drug screening and nanotoxicology applications which could potentially help to lessen our reliance on animals for preclinical drug testing. The combined use of CRISPR gene editing, multi-omics profiling, and machine-learning technology is accelerating the transition to personalized medicine. In spite of issues surrounding the standards associated with the use of organoid and organ-on-chip technology, ethical issues, and the magnitude of scalability, there continues to be ongoing technical advances and government support for this quickly developing technology. Organoids and organ-on-chip technologies represent a fundamental shift in the practice of biomedical research and may allow us to more closely and accurately simulate authentic human physiology while providing more efficient and safer platform for drug discovery to be conducted.
β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex of d-Limonene: A Promising Biocompatible Formula for Enhanced Wound Healing-In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.
Fytory M, Alabrahim OAA, Abouzid AE … +7 more , Lababidi JM, Aboomeirah AA, El-Qassas J, Tombelli S, Ahmed OM, El-Badri N, Azzazy HME
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Jan · PMID 41481792 · Publisher ↗
Wound healing, a complex multifactorial process, continues to pose a challenge, justifying the search for innovative therapeutic approaches to accelerate recovery. In this study, β-cyclodextrin-encapsulated d-limonene (β...
Wound healing, a complex multifactorial process, continues to pose a challenge, justifying the search for innovative therapeutic approaches to accelerate recovery. In this study, β-cyclodextrin-encapsulated d-limonene (βCD-d-limonene) was formulated and investigated as a promising strategy for wound management. The inclusion complex was successfully synthesized via a simple approach and thoroughly characterized, confirming enhanced physicochemical stability, encapsulation efficiency, and thermal stability. The βCD-d-limonene nanoparticles exhibited a high encapsulation efficiency of 91.97% ± 3.42%. Antimicrobial assessments demonstrated significantly higher antibacterial efficacy of βCD-d-limonene compared to free d-limonene against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. A significant 90-fold decrease in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was recorded for the most susceptible bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), with values decreasing from 111.2 mg/mL for free d-limonene to 1.24 mg/mL for the βCD-d-limonene complex. In vivo, wound healing studies revealed faster wound closure, reduced inflammation, and improved tissue regeneration. Gene expression analysis demonstrated modulation of key markers such as IL-6, MMP3, BAX, VEGF, and TGF-β1, supporting the inclusion complex's (βCD-d-limonene) role in regulating inflammation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Histological and immunohistochemical evaluations confirmed enhanced tissue architecture and cellular response in βCD-d-limonene-treated mice. These results underscore the potential of βCD-d-limonene as a stable, biocompatible, and highly effective therapy, offering a natural platform for wound care and related biomedical applications.
Biomechanical Characterization of Epileptic Brain for Surgical Planning of Intractable Epilepsy.
Gautam U, Singh MB, Mahajan S … +6 more , Tripathi S, Suri V, Garg A, Kumaran SS, Roy S, Suri A
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Jan · PMID 41481791 · Publisher ↗
Neurological disorders, including epilepsy, often manifest with altered brain stiffness, particularly in affected regions. The complex relationship between the biomechanical and microstructural characteristics of epilept...
Neurological disorders, including epilepsy, often manifest with altered brain stiffness, particularly in affected regions. The complex relationship between the biomechanical and microstructural characteristics of epileptic brain (EB) is poorly understood and warrants comprehensive research. This study investigates the in vitro viscoelastic properties of surgically excised EB tissues (S = 20) and marginal normal brain (NB) (S = 10) from the same individuals diagnosed with varying epileptogenic substrates. The microstructural characterization including neuron density, myelin and collagen content was also performed. Additionally, in vivo magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) was conducted on one subject to complement the in vitro findings as a pilot investigation. EB exhibited significantly higher stiffness than NB (storage modulus : 6.49 3.83 kPa vs. 1.97 0.40 kPa; loss modulus : 1.53 0.93 kPa vs. 0.61 0.31 kPa; p = 0.001). Among pathological subtypes, mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) tissues were the stiffest ( : 8.42 4.05 kPa and : 1.95 1.03 kPa), while focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) tissues were the softest ( : 2.56 0.45 kPa and : 0.83 0.41 kPa). Other etiologies fell between these extremes. Microstructural correlations revealed a strong positive relationship between stiffness and neuronal density (r = 0.81), a moderate negative correlation with myelin content (r = -0.52), and no significant association with collagen content (r = 0.15), indicating that cellular composition, rather than extracellular matrix components, predominantly contributes tissue mechanics. The in vivo MRE findings in an FCD lesion ( : 2.65 0.30 kPa; : 0.91 0.25 kPa) showed concordance with the in vitro measurement of specimen from same subject ( : 2.50 0.41 kPa; : 0.47 0.36 kPa). A deeper understanding of the mechanical differences between EB and NB has implications for personalized surgical planning, the development of high-fidelity computational models, and improved elastography and non-rigid image registration algorithms.
Corrigendum to "Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Mimetic Peptide and Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidant-Loaded Hydrogel System Improves Repair of Myocardial Infarction in Mice".
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Jan · PMID 41481789 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Mineralized Collagen: Adaptation of the Mineral Content to Control BMP-2 Delivery.
Schlicht L, Jähnichen J, Richter RF … +3 more , Gelinsky M, Bernhardt A, Lode A
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Jan · PMID 41468281 · Publisher ↗
To achieve bone regeneration in critical size defects, filling of the defect either with autologous bone or with a biodegradable bone substitute material possessing osteoconductivity and osteoinductivity is required. Bio...
To achieve bone regeneration in critical size defects, filling of the defect either with autologous bone or with a biodegradable bone substitute material possessing osteoconductivity and osteoinductivity is required. Biomimetically mineralized collagen is a nanocomposite material that closely resembles the natural bone matrix in composition and structure and has proven potential for filling bone defects. Since the mineral phase hydroxyapatite can bind proteins, the aim of the present study was to explore this biomaterial as a delivery system for the osteoinductive factor bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and to investigate the dependence of BMP-2 release on the mineral content. Three-dimensional scaffolds with varying mineral content were prepared by blending biomimetically mineralized collagen and non-mineralized collagen suspensions, followed by freeze-drying and chemical crosslinking. While the average pore size decreased, the stiffness of the scaffolds increased with increasing mineral content; all scaffold variants exhibited a fundamentally elastic behavior. After loading, the release of BMP-2 was investigated over 28 days. A significant influence of the mineral content on the release kinetics of BMP-2 was observed-the higher the mineral content, the stronger the retention of BMP-2 in the scaffolds. In contrast, the release of the vascular growth factor-A (VEGF-A), which was examined for comparison, was hardly influenced by the mineral content, indicating a low retention of VEGF-A by binding to the mineral phase. In summary, adjustment of the mineral content opens up the possibility of controlling the release of BMP-2 in a customized manner, but this is not transferable to VEGF-A.
Electron Beam Irradiation Processing of Aloe Vera-Releasing Hydrogels for Wound Dressing Applications.
Karawak P, Meepean P, Sritapanya N … +7 more , Morarad R, Sriwiang W, Kovitcharoenkul P, Yooyen T, Nilgumhang K, Thunyakitpisal P, Uttayarat P
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Jan · PMID 41468273 · Publisher ↗
Wound dressings incorporating plant extracts are attracting considerable attention due to their ability to deliver bioactive molecules that promote wound healing. This study reports on the development of self-supporting...
Wound dressings incorporating plant extracts are attracting considerable attention due to their ability to deliver bioactive molecules that promote wound healing. This study reports on the development of self-supporting hydrogel sheets loaded with natural Aloe vera (AV) juice and the evaluation of their cytocompatibility and AV release profile for wound dressing applications. Hydrogels composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were first crosslinked by electron beam (EB) irradiation to systematically investigate the effect of polymer compositions on the swelling and rehydration properties of hydrogels. The latter was harnessed as a process for incorporating AV juice into the dried hydrogels. While all compositions absorbed water, only hydrogels containing ≥ 70% (w/w) PVP could rehydrate beyond their original dimensions, a phenomenon attributed to larger surface pores observed in these formulations. The optimal 30PVA/70PVP composition was selected for AV loading via rehydration, followed by EB decontamination to ensure sterility. The resulting AV-loaded hydrogels were cytocompatible with L929 and human dermal fibroblasts. Furthermore, for the first time, the release of key AV constituents, including ions and the polysaccharide acemannan, was demonstrated as confirmed by mass spectrometry and HPLC analyses, respectively. These results establish a novel, scalable approach for producing decontaminated, crosslinked hydrogel sheets that effectively load and release AV components, offering a promising application-ready wound dressings.
Effect of PEGylated Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles on the Functions and Metabolism of THP-1 Cells.
Timganova V, Usanina D, Bochkova M … +7 more , Shardina K, Vlasova V, Rayev M, Zamorina S, Kurbatova O, Petrichuk S, Konyashin M
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Jan · PMID 41460841 · Publisher ↗
Graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles hold biomedical promise due to unique properties, but their immunomodulatory effects on phagocytes require evaluation, particularly regarding size- and coating-dependent interactions. Po...
Graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles hold biomedical promise due to unique properties, but their immunomodulatory effects on phagocytes require evaluation, particularly regarding size- and coating-dependent interactions. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) coatings reduce cytotoxicity, yet long-term impacts of varied coatings remain critical. This study investigated PEGylated GO nanoparticles (P-GO) of two lateral sizes (≈100-300 nm and ≈1-1.5 μm) with linear or branched PEG coatings on THP-1 monocyte viability, apoptosis, metabolism, and wide-spectrum cytokine production. Only the larger branched PEG-coated GO (25 μg/mL) exhibited cytotoxicity after 72 h. Other variants showed no cytotoxicity but modulated THP-1 activity. Larger linear PEG-coated GO induced apoptosis within 24 h. All particles in a concentration of 25 μg/mL were internalized by/adhered to cells, suppressed ROS production, and altered cytokine profiles: TNF-α, MIP-1β, MIP-1α, and G-CSF increased, while HGF and SCGF-β decreased. Larger branched PEG-coated GO suppressed oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis after 24 h. While a spectrum of effects of PEGylated graphene oxide on THP-1 cell functions was identified, predominantly observed at a dose of 25 μg/mL over a 24 to 72-h exposure period, no clear dependence of P-GO nanoparticle effects on THP-1 cells was observed with respect to PEG coating type (linear vs. branched) or particle size. At 5 μg/mL, P-GO caused minimal functional modulation. Thus, the study underscores the potential of low-concentration P-GO for therapeutic use while cautioning that even non-cytotoxic nanoparticles can profoundly alter immune cell behavior.
Reparative Effects of 3D-Printed PLGA/CHA/nmZnO Composite Scaffolds on Inflammatory Periodontal Bone Defects in Rats.
Xu CY, Zhao Y, Zhan JF … +12 more , Su J, Li XX, Li YB, Li Y, Hu T, Li ZD, Yang L, Liu Q, Yang C, Zhao Q, Yang SF, Zhang WY
J Biomed Mater Res A · 2026 Jan · PMID 41460805 · Publisher ↗
In this study, PLGA/CHA/nmZnO antibacterial bone repair scaffolds with different contents of CHA/nmZnO (0%, 15%, 25%, 30%, 35%) were prepared by 3D melt extrusion molding technology. The physicochemical properties, bioco...
In this study, PLGA/CHA/nmZnO antibacterial bone repair scaffolds with different contents of CHA/nmZnO (0%, 15%, 25%, 30%, 35%) were prepared by 3D melt extrusion molding technology. The physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and in vitro osteogenic performance of the scaffolds were characterized, and a rat model of periodontitis bone defect was constructed to evaluate the osteogenic effect of the scaffolds. Results showed that the scaffolds exhibited interconnected pore structures and appropriate mechanical properties. The contact angles were measured to be between 73.37° ± 1.36° and 85.03° ± 1.45°. The composite scaffolds of the 25%, 30%, and 35% groups had a significant promoting effect on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). In the bone defect model, the 30% scaffold showed substantial osteogenic effects at 6 weeks post-implantation, characterized by significant increases in BV/TV, BS/TV, and area of collagen formation, along with decreased trabecular separation. At 12 weeks, the volume fraction and collagen area of new bone surpassed those of Bio-Oss bone graft. Immunohistochemistry indicated that this scaffold effectively inhibited expression of inflammation-related factors TLR2, TLR7, and IL-1β. This study systematically compared the effects of CHA/nmZnO filler content on the performance of PLGA scaffolds, and selected 30% as the optimal ratio, which has both osteogenic induction and immune regulation functions, providing a new design idea for the development of periodontal bone regeneration materials.
About
- Frequency
- Sun
- Papers found
- 200
- RSS feed
- Subscribe