Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Penghui Wang, Wenjie Zhang, Rong Yang, Shuai Liu, Yanhan Ren, Xin Liu, Xiaoyan Tan, Bo Chi
Summary: A novel double network hydrogel with Fe3+ significantly enhanced mechanical properties and accelerated chondrogenesis efficiency of BMSCs, potentially improving cartilage regeneration and repair of cartilage defects.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Ana Mora-Boza, Saron G. Ghebrezadik, Johannes E. Leisen, Andres J. Garcia
Summary: This study presents a fabrication strategy for 4-arm amide-linked PEG-NB (PEG-4aNB) microgels using flow-focusing microfluidics for cell encapsulation. The PEG-4aNB microgels exhibit in vitro degradability and excellent viability and metabolic activity of encapsulated cells.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Andrew Chung, Burak Tavsanli, Elizabeth R. Gillies
Summary: Hydrogels have diverse applications, and OPF has attracted attention for its tunable degradation. By introducing protected amines into OPF, the degradation rate can be controlled by triggering the cleavage of the polymer backbone. This approach can be applied to other stimuli, providing a versatile method to control OPF degradation.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Connor E. Miksch, Nathaniel P. Skillin, Bruce E. Kirkpatrick, Grace K. Hach, Varsha V. Rao, Timothy J. White, Kristi S. Anseth
Summary: Granular synthetic hydrogels are printable and stimuli-responsive scaffolds that can be used for tissue engineering. By using submerged electrospray and UV photopolymerization, synthetic microgels with different degradabilities can be prepared. These microgels can be assembled into porous scaffolds with adjustable void fractions using particle jamming and extrusion printing. This approach allows for high-throughput direct encapsulation of cells within printable microgels, enabling large-scale 3D culture in macroporous biomaterials and providing spatiotemporal control over the properties of printed scaffolds for tissue culture.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eva Mueller, Fei Xu, Todd Hoare
Summary: This study demonstrates the 3D printing of hydrazone-crosslinked POEGMA hydrogels using the FRESH technique and a low-cost extrusion bioprinter. The dynamic nature of the hydrazone cross-links allows for the reconfiguration of the gel structure and maintains the degradability of the scaffold. Moreover, the POEGMA hydrogels support cell adhesion and viability.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Dong Sun, Wangyu Liu, Aimin Tang, Feng Zhou
Summary: This study focuses on the design and fabrication of cellular structured scaffolds with different Poisson's ratios. The scaffolds are then used to culture bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and the results demonstrate that the scaffold with zero Poisson's ratio is most suitable for chondrocyte differentiation. Tuning Poisson's ratio precisely is an effective strategy to provide a cell-friendly environment for tissue engineering scaffold fabrication.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART A
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ekkachai Martwong, Yvette Tran
Summary: The study reports on the synthesis and temperature-responsive properties of poly(PEGMA) hydrogel thin films. Surface-attached poly(PEGMA) hydrogel films were synthesized using a simple, versatile, and well-controlled thiol-ene click reaction method, with the transition temperature finely tunable by adjusting the number of PEG units. The LCST properties of the hydrogel films are not sensitive to salt, holding promise for applications in biology such as injectable hydrogels, drug delivery systems, microfluidic valves, and flow switches for biotechnologies.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jinyoung Hwang, Phuong Le Thi, Simin Lee, Eun-Hye Park, Eunmi Lee, Eunmin Kim, Kiyuk Chang, Ki Dong Park
Summary: Although numerous poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based bioadhesives have been developed and commercialized, their biocompatibility and bioactivity performances are generally lacking. To address these issues, chemically crosslinked gelatin-PEG adhesive hydrogels (GP) were designed through the enzymatic crosslinking reaction of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The GP hydrogels exhibited adjustable mechanical and adhesive properties and effectively improved tissue adhesiveness and bioactivity. They also showed promising potential for hemostatic and wound healing treatments.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Ionela Alice Podaru, Paul O. Stanescu, Raluca Ginghin, Stefania Stoleriu, Bogdan Tric, Raluca Somoghi, Mircea Teodorescu
Summary: This study investigates the synthesis and properties of nanocomposite hydrogels obtained by the aqueous solution free radical polymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) in the presence of Laponite XLG (XLG) as a crosslinker, and compares them with hydrogels prepared using conventional crosslinking agents. The results show that XLG is a better crosslinking agent than the conventional agent, leading to larger gel fractions and more homogeneous network hydrogels. Adding XLG as a second crosslinker significantly enhances the material properties.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Nicole E. Friend, Atticus J. McCoy, Jan P. Stegemann, Andrew J. Putnam
Summary: The formation of functional capillary blood vessels in engineered tissues remains a challenge. In this study, researchers investigated the effects of matrix properties on vessel network formation using PEG hydrogels. By varying the crosslinking ratio and incorporating cleavage sites, they found that reducing crosslinking or increasing degradability promoted vascularization and cell-mediated stiffening. These findings highlight the importance of cell-mediated remodeling for rapid vessel formation.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Guodong Nian, Junsoo Kim, Xianyang Bao, Zhigang Suo
Summary: In this study, a novel method was developed to create hydrogels that are both swell-resistant and tough by densely entangling polymer chains at elevated temperatures and sparsely crosslinking them using UV light. This method is applicable to various synthetic and natural polymers and compatible with industrial processing technologies, opening doors to the development of sustainable and high-performance hydrogels.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Fei Xu, Fei Tan, Ziran Zheng, Xiongwen Zhou
Summary: Transplanting cell/hydrogel constructs into a bone defect site is an effective strategy to repair damaged tissues. This study found that the period of in vitro pre-osteogenic differentiation plays a crucial role for the osteogenesis of BMSCs/PEGDA hydrogels, and a pre-differentiation for 14 days is the optimal choice for bone regeneration in rat cranial defects.
JOURNAL OF BIOMATERIALS APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Nathan R. Richbourg, Nicholas A. Peppas
Summary: Synthetic hydrogels are commonly used as artificial 3D environments for studying cell-environment interactions, but their representation of physical properties of biological tissues is limited. This study successfully decoupled stiffness and solute transport in hydrogels by manipulating four structural parameters of multi-arm PEG hydrogel formulations. The results suggest that this approach is validated and applicable for decoupling stiffness and solute transport in hydrogels, enabling precise hydrogel design for investigating cell-environment interactions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pawika Towongphaichayonte, Rangrong Yoksan
Summary: This study successfully fabricated polyelectrolyte complexes from mPEG-g-CTS and ALG, which could form fibrous network macrogels or spherical nanoparticles with different physicochemical properties depending on the mPEG chain length and weight ratios. These complexes have potential applications as carriers for functional food additives, drugs, and bioactive compounds.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mathilde Grosjean, Edouard Girard, Audrey Bethry, Gregory Chagnon, Xavier Garric, Benjamin Nottelet
Summary: This study designed degradable bioadhesives based on PEG-PLA star-shaped hydrogels and investigated the performance of acrylate, methacrylate, and catechol functional copolymers as bioadhesive hydrogels. The results showed that these bioadhesives reached adhesion strength comparable to commercial glues and exhibited low cytotoxicity, indicating their potential as surgical adhesives.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yiming Li, Michael D. Hoffman, Danielle S. W. Benoit
Summary: Decellularized allografts, commonly used for critical size bone defects, have high long-term failure rates due to lack of periosteum. Recent studies show that MMP-TEP modified allografts can effectively coordinate host neurovasculature, leading to improved bone healing outcomes.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Marian A. Ackun-Farmmer, Baixue Xiao, Maureen R. Newman, Danielle S. W. Benoit
Summary: The study demonstrates that bone-targeted drug delivery nanoparticles are taken up by macrophages in the liver, spleen, lungs, and bone marrow, with mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS)-mediated clearance being a key obstacle to their accumulation at fracture sites. Further development of sophisticated approaches is needed to improve the selectivity of the nanoparticles.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART A
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Guofu Zhu, Ying Lin, Tandi Ge, Shekhar Singh, Hao Liu, Linlin Fan, Shumin Wang, Jordan Rhen, Dongyang Jiang, Yuyan Lyu, Yiheng Yin, Xiankai Li, Danielle S. W. Benoit, Weiming Li, Yawei Xu, Jinjiang Pang
Summary: The Dll4-Notch1 signaling pathway is important in angiogenesis and arterial-venous specificity. The TAT-ANK peptide inhibits this pathway and promotes angiogenesis.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yuanhui Song, Azmeer Sharipol, Hitoshi Uchida, Matthew H. Ingalls, Lindsay Piraino, Jared A. Mereness, Tracey Moyston, Lisa A. DeLouise, Catherine E. Ovitt, Danielle S. W. Benoit
Summary: This study investigates a modified approach for isolating intact acinar cell clusters and intercalated ducts (AIDUCs) in order to maintain the secretory function of salivary gland cells in vitro. Encapsulation of AIDUCs in PEG hydrogels promotes self-assembly into salivary gland mimetics (SGm) with acinar-like structure, and maintains expression of secretory function-associated genes. The results suggest that the maintenance of cell-cell interactions and the hydrogel microenvironment may be promising for salivary gland regenerative strategies.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Guilherme Roncari Rocha, Kenneth R. Sims, Baixue Xiao, Marlise I. Klein, Danielle S. W. Benoit
Summary: This study aimed to prevent the formation of dental caries by using pH-sensitive nanoparticle carriers (NPCs) to target critical virulence factors. The results showed that the NPC delivering specific drugs could completely prevent biofilm formation and hinder acid production, maintaining the pH above the threshold for enamel demineralization.
JOURNAL OF ORAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Tatsuro Ito, Kenneth R. Sims, Yuan Liu, Zhenting Xiang, Rodrigo A. Arthur, Anderson T. Hara, Hyun Koo, Danielle S. W. Benoit, Marlise I. Klein
Summary: Farnesol-loaded nanoparticles carriers (NPCs) have shown anti-biofilm efficacy against cross-kingdom biofilms formed by Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. This strategy can also effectively prevent enamel demineralization. Drug delivery via polymeric NPCs is of great significance in the treatment of pediatric oral diseases such as early childhood caries (ECC).
MOLECULAR ORAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
David Fraser, Tram Nguyen, Alexander Kotelsky, Whasil Lee, Mark Buckley, Danielle S. W. Benoit
Summary: This study introduces a novel method for inducing cell alignment adjacent to stiff surfaces through applied strain and provides a model for the study and engineering of periodontal and other aligned tissues.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Lindsay R. Piraino, Danielle S. W. Benoit, Lisa A. DeLouise
Summary: This study utilizes a salivary gland tissue chip model and a design of experiments approach to test the effects of combinations of soluble cues on salivary gland cell function. The results demonstrate that optimized culture conditions can efficiently support secretory function in vitro, contributing to the maintenance or improvement of salivary gland function.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Baixue Xiao, Yuxuan Liu, Indika Chandrasiri, Clyde Overby, Danielle S. W. Benoit
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effect of NP physicochemical parameters (size and charge) on macrophage polarization. It was found that cationic NPs promote both M1 and M2 macrophage markers, while anionic NPs promote M1-to-M2 polarization. Additionally, the size of NPs impacts protein corona abundance but not identities. These findings provide design principles for developing macrophage-mediated NP drug delivery systems.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Emmanuela Adjei-Sowah, Danielle S. W. Benoit, Alayna E. Loiselle
Summary: Tendon injuries disrupt the transmission of forces between muscle and bone, causing chronic pain and disability. Current treatments lack effectiveness and there is a need for targeted drug delivery approaches. This review discusses the state-of-the-art methods and future challenges of tendon-targeted drug delivery.
TISSUE ENGINEERING PART B-REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Baixue Xiao, Yuxuan Liu, Indika Chandrasiri, Emmanuela Adjei-Sowah, Jared Mereness, Ming Yan, Danielle S. W. Benoit
Summary: This study developed a bone-targeted nanoparticle drug delivery system that enhances fracture healing by modulating macrophage polarization. The experimental results showed that the system is predominantly uptaken by fracture-associated macrophages, resulting in increased M2/M1 ratio and expedited fracture healing, accompanied by upregulation of anti-inflammatory genes and downregulation of pro-inflammatory genes.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Clyde Overby, Soomin Park, Austin Summers, Danielle S. W. Benoit
Summary: In this study, diverse zwitterionic peptides (ZIPs) were developed and characterized for anti-fouling surface functionalization of nanoparticles (NPs). The results showed that the adsorption of proteins to NPs depends not only on the specific composition of the ZIPs, but also on the sequence and order of charges along the sequence (charge motif). These findings provide new tools for controlling protein adsorption profiles on ZIP-conjugated NPs and investigating the relationship between protein corona and biological function.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
David Fraser, Danielle Benoit
Summary: This study investigated the use of poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels functionalized with integrin-binding peptides for promoting periodontal tissue regeneration. The results showed that the dual presentation of these peptides within the hydrogels enhanced the activity of periodontal ligament cells and could be tuned to promote different functions. The optimized hydrogel system promoted cementum formation and new bone formation.
BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES
(2022)
Review
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yiming Li, David Fraser, Jared Mereness, Amy Van Hove, Sayantani Basu, Maureen Newman, Danielle S. W. Benoit
Summary: Craniofacial tissue injuries, diseases, and defects affect around 1 billion patients globally and significantly reduce their quality of life. Successful tissue regeneration requires the coordination of vascularization and innervation, but current tissue engineering approaches often fail to achieve this. A revised approach is necessary to develop engineered materials that can support both processes and improve craniofacial tissue regeneration outcomes.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Marian A. Ackun-Farmmer, Hanan Alwaseem, Michele Counts, Andrew Bortz, Simone Giovani, Benjamin J. Frisch, Rudi Fasan, Danielle S. W. Benoit
Summary: MCL analogs with enhanced cytotoxicity against LSCs are synthesized through late-stage chemoenzymatic C-H functionalization, and encapsulated in bone-targeted NPs for improved delivery. In a leukemic mouse model, these NPs show promising results in reducing LSCs and improving median survival, with selective cytotoxicity against leukemic cells observed. Overall, the combination of MCL-based antileukemic agents and bone-targeted NPs presents a potential strategy for eradicating LSCs.
ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Lin-Lin Luo, Jie Xu, Bing-Qiao Wang, Chen Chen, Xi Chen, Qiu-Mei Hu, Yu-Qiu Wang, Wan-Yun Zhang, Wan-Xiang Jiang, Xin-Ting Li, Hu Zhou, Xiao Xiao, Kai Zhao, Sen Lin
Summary: A novel AAV serotype, AAVYC5, introduced in this study, showed more efficient transduction into multiple retinal layers compared to AAV2, and enabled successful delivery of anti-angiogenic molecules in mice and non-human primates.
