Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mithun Rajendra Dethe, A. Prabakaran, Hafiz Ahmed, Mukta Agrawal, Upal Roy, Amit Alexander
Summary: Stimuli-responsive hydrogels have been extensively studied in biomedical applications due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. The emergence of in situ stimuli-responsive hydrogels is the result of advancements in synthetic chemistry and materials science. The copolymer PCL-PEG, recognized by the FDA, can form thermosensitive injectable hydrogels that exhibit rapid and reversible gelation behavior.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shihuai Li, Yunan Qing, Yan Lou, Ruiyan Li, Hao Wang, Xingyue Wang, Boda Ying, Xiongfeng Tang, Yanguo Qin
Summary: In this study, an injectable multifunctional hydrogel therapeutic platform was designed for synergistic photothermal chemotherapy and bone defect repair. The hydrogel incorporated black phosphorus nanosheets and doxorubicin, exhibiting excellent photothermal effects and drug-loading capacity. It effectively eliminated tumor cells and promoted osteogenic differentiation. The easily prepared hydrogel has great potential for clinically treating bone-related tumors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Danni Gong, Fei Yu, Meng Zhou, Wei Dong, Dan Yan, Siyi Zhang, Yan Yan, Huijing Wang, Yao Tan, Ying Chen, Bei Feng, Wei Fu, Yao Fu, Yang Lu
Summary: dcECM hydrogels derived from porcine ears through enzymatic digestion show good biocompatibility for delivering chondrocytes and forming subcutaneous cartilage in vivo. The structural and gelation kinetics of the hydrogels vary with ECM concentrations, with 10 mg/ml hydrogels supporting adhesion and proliferation of chondrocytes in vitro. In vivo, 10 mg/ml dcECM hydrogel grafts exhibit similar qualities to native cartilage, indicating their potential for tissue engineering applications in ear cartilage regeneration.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Seung Hun Park, Richard S. Kim, Wesley R. Stiles, Minjoo Jo, Lingxue Zeng, Sunghoon Rho, Yoonji Baek, Jonghan Kim, Moon Suk Kim, Homan Kang, Hak Soo Choi
Summary: Deferoxamine (DFO) is an FDA-approved iron-chelating agent with good therapeutic efficacy, but its short blood half-life poses challenges for patients who require frequent administrations. By integrating crosslinked hyaluronic acid and Pluronic F127 into an injectable hydrogel formulation, a prolonged release of DFO nanochelators is achieved, significantly extending the half-life and demonstrating potential for the treatment of iron overload disorders.
Article
Biophysics
Yin Xiao, Yuhong Gu, Li Qin, Lin Chen, Xiaoliang Chen, Weiheng Cui, Fuling Li, Ni Xiang, Xiaoai He
Summary: Injectable thermosensitive hydrogel is an attractive drug delivery system that has become increasingly important in cancer therapy due to its ability to provide high local drug concentration, sustained release, minimal invasiveness, and low systemic toxicities. This review highlights its extensive application in local cancer therapy, including chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, gene therapy, chemo-photothermal combined therapy, and chemo-/immuno- combined therapy.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gangyuan Bi, Sa Liu, Xiupeng Zhong, Yaotian Peng, Wenjing Song, Junzhong Yang, Li Ren
Summary: This study presents the design of a gradient-mixing injection device for the preparation of thermosensitive injectable gradient hydrogels, which can repair osteochondral defects in a less invasive manner and promote stem cell differentiation.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Qian Chen, Juehan Wang, Qinghong Xia, Lei Wu, Fei Chen, Li Li, Ce Zhu, Miaomiao He, Yulin Jiang, Yong Huang, Hong Ding, Ruibang Wu, Li Zhang, Yueming Song, Liming Liu
Summary: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a common musculoskeletal disease and its treatment remains challenging. This study explores the role of a VEGF inhibitor in treating IDD and finds it effective in ameliorating disc degeneration. Injectable hydrogels show potential as a therapeutic option.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hossein Montazerian, Elham Davoodi, Alireza Hassani Najafabadi, Reihaneh Haghniaz, Avijit Baidya, Nasim Annabi, Ali Khademhosseini, Paul S. Weiss
Summary: By oxidative oligomerization of catecholic compounds, gelatin can be functionalized with caffeic acid (CA) oligomers to enhance its bioadhesive properties. Ex vivo adhesion tests on pig lungs showed a 33-fold improvement in adhesion strength compared to gelatin methacryloyl controls, with increased toughness and stretchability. Functionalization with CA oligomers also allows for rapid gel formation at room temperature, adjustable viscosity for injectability, and enhanced antioxidant effects.
CELL REPORTS PHYSICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Negin Khaneh Zarrin, Fatemeh Mottaghitalab, Rui L. Reis, Subhas C. Kundu, Mehdi Farokhi
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of injectable hydrogels for treating bone defects, which showed significant enhancement of bone healing in aged rat models. The injectable hydrogels contain thermosensitive nanoparticles, simvastatin acid, and vitamin C, and exhibit good biocompatibility and biodegradability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Zheng Zou, Zhen Zhang, Hui Ren, Xueliang Cheng, Xuesi Chen, Chaoliang He
Summary: An antibacterial tissue-adhesive hydrogel was developed by mixing OPA-terminated four-arm poly(ethylene glycol) and e-poly-L-lysine solutions. The hydrogel showed tunable gelation time, storage moduli, and degradation rate. It exhibited excellent antibacterial activity, good biocompatibility, and strong tissue adhesion, making it a promising wound dressing for infection prevention and wound healing promotion.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Chih-Hao Chen, Hao-Hsi Kao, Yen-Chen Lee, Jyh-Ping Chen
Summary: In this study, a thermosensitive hyaluronic acid-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) copolymer was synthesized and found to have sol-to-gel phase transition temperatures suitable for use as a scaffold for chondrocyte delivery. In vitro cell culture experiments showed that cells could proliferate in the polymer scaffold with full retention of cell viability and exhibit the phenotypic morphology of chondrocytes. In vivo studies confirmed the formation of ectopic cartilage when the polymer was used as a cell delivery vehicle. These findings suggest the promising potential of the thermosensitive hydrogel in cartilage tissue engineering applications.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Wei Guo, Haichao Liu, Jiaxing Zhang, Jianzhong Zhang, Fei Wang, Peng Zhang, Yunbo Yang
Summary: This study developed a composite hydrogel that can increase the residence time of drugs in the bladder, improving the therapeutic effect. The hydrogel also showed good biocompatibility and antibacterial properties.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART A
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Jingcheng Wang, Leizhen Huang, Yong Huang, Yulin Jiang, Li Zhang, Ganjun Feng, Limin Liu
Summary: The study revealed that SHP2 is highly expressed in degenerative IDD, and its overexpression inhibits the expression of Sox9 in NP cells, leading to decreased expression of key proteins and IDD development. SHP099 was able to reverse the degeneration of NP cells in vitro and showed therapeutic effects on IDD in rats when administered through injectable thermosensitive hydrogels.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hyeon Jin Ju, Yun Bae Ji, Shina Kim, Hee-Woong Yun, Jae Ho Kim, Byoung Hyun Min, Moon Suk Kim
Summary: This study aims to develop an injectable hydrogel scaffold using a porcine cartilage-derived acellular matrix (CAM). The CAM is cross-linked with a biocompatible polyethylene glycol (PEG) cross-linker to replace glutaraldehyde (GA) cross-linker. The injectable Cx-CAM-PEG suspension shows controllable rheological properties and injectability. The in vivo formed Cx-CAM-PEG hydrogel scaffold exhibits host-cell infiltration and minimal inflammation, making it a potential candidate for (pre-)clinical scaffolds.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Helena Ferreira, Diana Amorim, Ana Claudia Lima, Rogerio P. Pirraco, Ana Rita Costa-Pinto, Rui Almeida, Armando Almeida, Rui L. Reis, Filipa Pinto-Ribeiro, Nuno M. Neves
Summary: Stem cell therapies using a hydrogel as a cell carrier show potential in treating neurodegenerative diseases, with the engineered hydrogel demonstrating improved bioavailability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. This approach may provide efficacious treatments for conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yu Fan, Lijia He, Yu Wang, Shaozhi Fu, Yunwei Han, Juan Fan, Qinglian Wen
Summary: CLIP4 is downregulated in breast cancer and correlated with hormone receptor status and breast cancer grading. Its expression is positively associated with basal-like and triple negative breast cancer status, and ectopic expression is linked to poor prognosis. Analysis of genes co-expressed with CLIP4 revealed enrichment of multiple signaling pathways in the high expression phenotype.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Qin Gao, YiQing Jiang, XiaoJie Li, Hui Chen, Shan Tang, Han Chen, XiangXiang Shi, Yue Chen, ShaoZhi Fu, Sheng Lin
Summary: The study investigated the effects of intratumoral injections of anlotinib hydrogel combined with radiotherapy on tumor hypoxia, finding that it could inhibit vascular growth, alleviate hypoxia, reduce toxicity, and prolong survival in mice. Furthermore, RT+AL-HA-Tyr reduced HIF-1α, Ki67, and VEGF-A expression, and increased gamma-H2AX levels in tumor cells.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Yue Li, QingQing Leng, XianLun Pang, Huan Shi, YanLin Liu, SuSu Xiao, Ling Zhao, Ping Zhou, ShaoZhi Fu
Summary: A novel nano-drug delivery system, EGF@CCN, was developed for treating skin defects, showing significant advantages in promoting wound healing. The prepared nano-scaled EGF@CCN spray represents a promising strategy for the treatment of dermal wounds.
REGENERATIVE BIOMATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Jing Jin, Yi Li, Qijie Zhao, Yue Chen, Shaozhi Fu, JingBo Wu
Summary: Recent studies have shown that tumor microenvironment (TME) immune cells play a significant role in affecting the development and progression of breast cancer, but lack of sufficient evidence limits the clinical application of immunotherapy for advanced and metastatic breast cancers. Targeting STAT3 and/or combining it with radiotherapy may enhance anti-cancer immune responses and rescue the systemic immunologic microenvironment in breast cancer.STAT3 function in TME of breast cancer involves multiple types of immunosuppression and is associated with tumor cell metastasis, in addition to its oncogenic role in tumor cells.
CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jing Wang, Yan Zhang, GuangPeng Zhang, Li Xiang, HaoWen Pang, Kang Xiong, Yun Lu, JianMei Li, Jie Dai, Sheng Lin, ShaoZhi Fu
Summary: This study demonstrates promising clinical application of radiotherapy in combination with EGF@DOX-NPs for lung cancer treatment. The targeted nanoparticles selectively accumulate at the tumor site due to radiation-induced outburst of local intra-tumoral blood vessels. Compared with DOX alone, EGF@DOX-NPs significantly decrease tumor cell viability and migration, and increase apoptosis rates. Moreover, EGF@DOX-NPs increase survival of tumor-bearing mice through radiation-induced aggregation without apparent systemic toxic effects. Therefore, the combination of radiotherapy and EGF@DOX-NPs shows potential for improving clinical outcomes in lung cancer treatment.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ping Chen, Xu Zhang, Renbo Ding, Linglin Yang, Xueying Lyu, Jianming Zeng, Josh Haipeng Lei, Lijian Wang, Jiong Bi, Nan Shao, Ditian Shu, Bin Wu, Jingbo Wu, Zhihui Yang, Haiyan Wang, Biqiong Wang, Kang Xiong, Yun Lu, Shaozhi Fu, Tak Kan Choi, Ng Wai Lon, Aiping Zhang, Dongyang Tang, Yingyao Quan, Ya Meng, Kai Miao, Heng Sun, Ming Zhao, Jiaolin Bao, Lei Zhang, Xiaoling Xu, Yanxia Shi, Ying Lin, Chuxia Deng
Summary: This study discusses the development of patient-derived organoids (PDOs) as a real-time platform to explore tailored treatment options for refractory breast cancers. PDOs successfully generated from breast cancer tissues reflect previous treatment responses of corresponding patients. Patients deemed sensitive to at least one drug by PDOs showed good treatment responses in clinical case studies.
Review
Oncology
Yuru Hu, Hanshan Yang, Shaozhi Fu, Jingbo Wu
Summary: Therapeutic plasma exchange is a trial method used for cancer treatment by removing pathogenic factors in the plasma. Despite bringing new hope for cancer treatment, the evidence supporting therapeutic plasma exchange is controversial, and more well-designed prospective trials are needed to define its role in cancer treatment.
CANCER MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yue Li, Qingqing Leng, Yan Zhang, Sheng Lin, Qinglian Wen, Yun Lu, Kang Xiong, Huan Shi, Yanlin Liu, Susu Xiao, Ling Zhao, Jingbo Wu, Zhiyong Qian, Shaozhi Fu
Summary: Tumor hypoxia negatively affects the clinical treatment of lung cancer. This study proposes a novel drug delivery strategy by implanting anaerobic Bifidobacterium infantis as a preimplanted target and using bacterial antibody decorated nano-drug missiles to enrich therapeutic drugs in the tumor hypoxic area. The study confirms the excellent anti-tumor effect of this strategy, with reduced systemic side effects. This work provides an elegant platform for in vivo delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs to the hypoxic area of solid tumors.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yumeng Wei, Ke Li, Wenmei Zhao, Yingmeng He, Hongping Shen, Jiyuan Yuan, Chao Pi, Xiaomei Zhang, Mingtang Zeng, Shaozhi Fu, Xinjie Song, Robert J. Lee, Ling Zhao
Summary: This study successfully developed long-circulating solid lipid nanoparticles containing a novel curcumin derivative and demonstrated their favorable pharmacokinetics and anti-cancer effects in treating MHCC-97H liver cancer cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NANOMEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Susu Xiao, Huan Shi, Yan Zhang, Yu Fan, Li Wang, Li Xiang, Yanlin Liu, Ling Zhao, Shaozhi Fu
Summary: Local hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumors. In this study, a biocompatible bacteria/nanoparticles biohybrid platform was developed to target breast tumors. The results showed that the biohybrid was able to effectively colonize hypoxic tumors, increasing drug accumulation and reducing toxic side-effects.
JOURNAL OF NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Jun Ying Fan, Yuan Huang, Yi Li, Tobias Achu Muluh, Shao Zhi Fu, Jing Bo Wu
Summary: Tumors pose a significant threat to human life and health. Conventional therapies such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy have limitations in their effectiveness, including high toxicity to normal cells and the risk of drug resistance. Bacterial anti-tumor immunotherapy has emerged as a promising alternative, utilizing bacteria to target and colonize tumor tissues, triggering anti-tumor immune responses to effectively eliminate tumor cells.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Susu Xiao, Yu Wang, Wenqiong Ma, Ping Zhou, Biqiong Wang, Zhouxue Wu, Qian Wen, Kang Xiong, Yanlin Liu, Shaozhi Fu
Summary: A thermosensitive hydrogel composite was developed for inhibiting ascites of hepatocellular carcinoma through intraperitoneal injection, showing promising anti-tumor effects.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Qian Ma, Qiang Li, Xin Cai, Ping Zhou, Zhouxue Wu, Biqiong Wang, Wenqiong Ma, Shaozhi Fu
Summary: Cancer treatment is a highly researched field in biomedical science. Injectable hydrogels, used as drug carriers, have been widely applied in cancer therapy, and biodegradable hydrogels also have great potential in inhibiting tumor recurrence and metastasis.
JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yao Chen, Shuya Liu, Yin Liao, Hanshan Yang, Zhuo Chen, Yuru Hu, Shaozhi Fu, Jingbo Wu
Summary: In this study, albumin-modified gold nanoparticles (Alb-GNPs) were prepared and their radiosensitizing effects and biotoxicity in human non-small-cell lung carcinoma tumor-bearing mice models were observed. The prepared nanoparticles (Alb-GNPs) showed excellent colloidal stability and biocompatibility with a mean size of 205.06 +/- 1.03 nm. Clone formation experiments demonstrated that Alb-GNPs exerted excellent radiosensitization with a higher sensitization enhancement ratio (SER) of 1.432 compared to X-ray alone. Alb-GNPs could accumulate favorably in tumors and their combination with radiotherapy exhibited a greater radiosensitizing effect and anti-tumor activity. Additionally, no toxicity or abnormal irritating response was observed with the application of Alb-GNPs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NANOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Jie Dai, Jianmei Li, Yuqin Zhang, Qian Wen, Yun Lu, Yu Fan, Fancai Zeng, Zhiyong Qian, Yan Zhang, Shaozhi Fu
Summary: The Bif@PAu-NPs hybrid effectively targets hypoxic regions in tumors to achieve precise photothermal therapy and stimulate an immune response through immunogenic cell death. The inclusion of GM-CSF enhances the immune response, leading to long-term anti-tumor immunity and suppression of tumor growth.
BIOMATERIALS RESEARCH
(2023)
