A PEG-Lysozyme hydrogel harvests multiple functions as a fit-to-shape tissue sealant for internal-use of body

An Injectable Hydrogel with Ultrahigh Burst Pressure and Innate Antibacterial Activity for Emergency Hemostasis and Wound Repair

Uncontrolled bleeding and wound infections following severe trauma pose significant challenges for existing tissue adhesives, primarily due to their weak wet adhesion, slow adhesion formation, cytotoxicity concerns, and lack of antibacterial properties. Herein, an injectable hydrogel (denoted as ES gel) with rapid, robust adhesive sealing and inherent antibacterial activity based on ε-polylysine and a poly(ethylene glycol) derivative is developed. The engineered hydrogel exhibits rapid gelation behavior, high mechanical strength, strong adhesion to various tissues, and can sustain an ultrahigh burst pressure of 450 mmHg. It also presents excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, antibacterial properties, and on-demand removability. Significantly improved hemostatic efficacy of ES gel compared to fibrin glue is demonstrated using various injury models in rats and rabbits. Remarkably, the adhesive hydrogel can effectively halt lethal non-compressible hemorrhages in visceral organs (liver, spleen, and heart) and femoral artery injury models in fully anticoagulated pigs. Furthermore, the hydrogel outperforms commercial products in sutureless wound closure and repair in the rat liver defect, skin incision, and infected full-thickness skin wound models. Overall, this study highlights the promising clinical applications of ES gel for managing uncontrolled hemorrhage, sutureless wound closure, and infected wound repair.

Injectable-Hydrogel-Based Tissue Sealant for Hemostasis, Bacteria Inhibition, and Pro-Angiogenesis in Organ Bleeding Wounds and Therapeutic Outcome Monitoring Via NIR-II Optical Imaging

Sudden hemorrhage stemming from internal organ wounds poses a grave and potentially fatal risk if left untreated. Injectable-hydrogel-based tissue sealants featuring multiple actions, including fit-to-shape in situ gelation, rapid hemostasis, pro-angiogenic, anti-bacterial and outcome tracking, are ideal for the management of organ trauma wounds. Herein, an injectable-hydrogel tissue sealant AN@CD-PEG&TQ which consists of four-arm 4-arm poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-SC) succinimidyl carbonate), AN@CD nanoprobe, and two bioactive peptides (anti-microbial peptide Tet213 and pro-angiogenic peptide QK) is developed. Among them, AN@CD nanoparticles form through host/guest complexation of amino-group-containing β-cyclodextrin and adamantyl group, enabling in situ biomarker (NO)-activatable optoacoustic/NIR-II: Near-infrared second biological window fluorescent imaging. The ample ─NH2 groups on the surface of AN@CD readily engage in rapid cross-linking with succinimidyl ester groups located at the ends of four-arm PEG-SC. This cross-linking expedites the gelation process without necessitating additional initiators or cross-linking agents; thus, significantly enhancing both hydrogel's application convenience and biocompatibility. Bioactive peptides (Tet213 and QK) safeguard against possible bacterial infections, facilitate angiogenesis, and eventually, improve organ wounds healing. This hydrogel-based tissue sealant demonstrates superior therapeutic and bioimaging performance in various mouse models including liver hemorrhage, gastric perforation, and bacterial-infected skin wound mouse models, highlighting its potential as a high-performance wound sealant for organ bleeding wound management.

Enhanced ROS scavenging and tissue adhesive abilities in injectable hydrogels by protein modification with oligoethyleneimine

Postsurgical treatment comprehensively benefits from the application of tissue-adhesive injectable hydrogels, which reduce postoperative complications by promoting wound closure and tissue regeneration. Although various hydrogels have been employed as clinical tissue adhesives, many exhibit deficiencies in adhesive strength under wet conditions or in immunomodulatory functions. Herein, we report the development of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and tissue-adhesive injectable hydrogels composed of polyamine-modified gelatin crosslinked with the 4-arm poly (ethylene glycol) crosslinker. Polyamine-modified gelatin was particularly potent in suppressing the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines from stimulated primary macrophages. This effect is attributed to its ability to scavenge ROS and inhibit the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa-B. Polyamine-modified gelatin-based hydrogels exhibited ROS scavenging abilities and enhanced tissue adhesive strength on collagen casing. Notably, the hydrogel demonstrated exceptional tissue adhesive properties in a wet environment, as evidenced by its performance using porcine small intestine tissue. This approach holds significant promise for designing immunomodulatory hydrogels with superior tissue adhesion strength compared to conventional medical materials, thereby contributing to advancements in minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Impact of PEG sensitization on the efficacy of PEG hydrogel-mediated tissue engineering

While poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels are generally regarded as biologically inert blank slates, concerns over PEG immunogenicity are growing, and the implications for tissue engineering are unknown. Here, we investigate these implications by immunizing mice against PEG to stimulate anti-PEG antibody production and evaluating bone defect regeneration after treatment with bone morphogenetic protein-2-loaded PEG hydrogels. Quantitative analysis reveals that PEG sensitization increases bone formation compared to naive controls, whereas histological analysis shows that PEG sensitization induces an abnormally porous bone morphology at the defect site, particularly in males. Furthermore, immune cell recruitment is higher in PEG-sensitized mice administered the PEG-based treatment than their naive counterparts. Interestingly, naive controls that were administered a PEG-based treatment also develop anti-PEG antibodies. Sex differences in bone formation and immune cell recruitment are also apparent. Overall, these findings indicate that anti-PEG immune responses can impact tissue engineering efficacy and highlight the need for further investigation.

Soft and Hard Tissue Integration around Percutaneous Bone-Anchored Titanium Prostheses: Toward Achieving Holistic Biointegration

A holistic biointegration of percutaneous bone-anchored metallic prostheses with both hard and soft tissues dictates their longevity in the human body. While titanium (Ti) has nearly solved osseointegration, soft tissue integration of percutaneous metallic prostheses is a perennial problem. Unlike the firm soft tissue sealing in biological percutaneous structures (fingernails and teeth), foreign body response of the skin to titanium (Ti) leads to inflammation, epidermal downgrowth and inferior peri-implant soft tissue sealing. This review discusses various implant surface treatments/texturing and coatings for osseointegration, soft tissue integration, and against bacterial attachment. While surface microroughness by SLA (sandblasting with large grit and acid etched) and porous calcium phosphate (CaP) coatings improve Ti osseointegration, smooth and textured titania nanopores, nanotubes, microgrooves, and biomolecular coatings encourage soft tissue attachment. However, the inferior peri-implant soft tissue sealing compared to natural teeth can lead to peri-implantitis. Toward this end, the application of smart multifunctional bioadhesives with strong adhesion to soft tissues, mechanical resilience, durability, antibacterial, and immunomodulatory properties for soft tissue attachment to metallic prostheses is proposed.

Synthetic and biopolymers-based antimicrobial hybrid hydrogels: a focused review

The constantly accelerating occurrence of microbial infections and their antibiotic resistance has spurred advancement in the field of material sciences and has guided the development of novel materials with anti-bacterial properties. To address the clinical exigencies, the material of choice should be biodegradable, biocompatible, and able to offer prolonged antibacterial effects. As an attractive option, hydrogels have been explored globally as a potent biomaterial platform that can furnish essential antibacterial attributes owing to its three-dimensional (3D) hydrophilic polymeric network, adequate biocompatibility, and cellular adhesion. The current review focuses on the utilization of different antimicrobial hydrogels based on their sources (natural and synthetic). Further, the review also highlights the strategies for the generation of hydrogels with their advantages and disadvantages and their applications in different biomedical fields. Finally, the prospects in the development of hydrogels-based antimicrobial biomaterials are discussed along with some key challenges encountered during their development and clinical translation.

The Evolution of Technology-Driven In Vitro Models for Neurodegenerative Diseases

The alteration in the neural circuits of both central and peripheral nervous systems is closely related to the onset of neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs). Despite significant research efforts, the knowledge regarding NDD pathological processes, and the development of efficacious drugs are still limited due to the inability to access and reproduce the components of the nervous system and its intricate microenvironment. 2D culture systems are too simplistic to accurately represent the more complex and dynamic situation of cells in vivo and have therefore been surpassed by 3D systems. However, both models suffer from various limitations that can be overcome by employing two innovative technologies: organ-on-chip and 3D printing. In this review, an overview of the advantages and shortcomings of both microfluidic platforms and extracellular matrix-like biomaterials will be given. Then, the combination of microfluidics and hydrogels as a new synergistic approach to study neural disorders by analyzing the latest advances in 3D brain-on-chip for neurodegenerative research will be explored.

Advancing homogeneous networking principles for the development of fatigue-resistant, low-swelling and sprayable hydrogels for sealing wet, dynamic and concealed wounds in vivo

Effective sealing of wet, dynamic and concealed wounds remains a formidable challenge in clinical practice. Sprayable hydrogel sealants are promising due to their ability to cover a wide area rapidly, but they face limitations in dynamic and moist environments. To address this issue, we have employed the principle of a homogeneous network to design a sprayable hydrogel sealant with enhanced fatigue resistance and reduced swelling. This network is formed by combining the spherical structure of lysozyme (LZM) with the orthotetrahedral structure of 4-arm-polyethylene glycol (4-arm-PEG). We have achieved exceptional sprayability by controlling the pH of the precursor solution. The homogeneous network, constructed through uniform cross-linking of amino groups in protein and 4-arm-PEG-NHS, provides the hydrogel with outstanding fatigue resistance, low swelling and sustained adhesion. In vitro testing demonstrated that it could endure 2000 cycles of underwater shearing, while in vivo experiments showed adhesion maintenance exceeding 24 h. Furthermore, the hydrogel excelled in sealing leaks and promoting ulcer healing in models including porcine cardiac hemorrhage, lung air leakage and rat oral ulcers, surpassing commonly used clinical materials. Therefore, our research presents an advanced biomaterial strategy with the potential to advance the clinical management of wet, dynamic and concealed wounds.

Formation of hen egg white lysozyme derived amyloid-based hydrogels using different gelation agents: A potential tool for drug delivery

Amyloids are highly stable protein fibrillar aggregates that get deposited in various parts of our body and cause detrimental diseases. But in nature, the presence of functional amyloids is also noted in bacteria that help them by forming hyphae, biofilm, protein reservoirs, signalling messengers, etc. Keeping this perspective in mind, the idea behind this research was to develop functional amyloids in the form of hydrogel and analyse its potential in the biomedical sector as a drug-delivery tool. The synthesis and characterisation of three types of amyloid-based hydrogels have been reported in this work. Hen Egg-White Lysozyme (HEWL) protein was chosen as the principal ingredient as it is extensively used as a standard protein for studying amyloidogenesis and has inherent antibacterial properties. Comparative studies of different hydrogel properties exhibited variations in the hydrogels based on compositional differences in them. Finally, a drug release assay was done on the synthesized hydrogels to explore their potential as drug delivery tools.

Biomimetic, self-coacervating adhesive with tough underwater adhesion for ultrafast hemostasis and infected wound healing

Massive bleeding and wound infection due to severe traumas pose a huge threat to the life and health of sufferers; therefore, it is of clinical importance to fabricate adhesives with rapid hemostatic and superior antibacterial capabilities. However, the weak wet adhesion and insufficient function of existing bioadhesives limits their practical application. In this study, a sandcastle worm protein inspired polyelectrolyte self-coacervate adhesive of poly-γ-glutamic acid (PGA) and lysozyme (LZM) was developed. The adhesive exhibited strong underwater adhesion to various surfaces (>250 kPa for solid plates and >50 kPa for soft tissues) and maintained a 80 kPa even when soaked in water for 7 days. Rat liver and tail defect bleeding models revealed that the hemostatic efficiency was superior to that of commercial samples. The in vitro antimicrobial tests showed that the bacterial inhibition to Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli reached almost 100%. Additionally, the infected wound regeneration model demonstrated that the healing rate of the adhesive group was about 100% within 15 days, which was greater than that of the control group. In vitro and in vivo experiments proved that this facilely prepared adhesive will be a promising material to fulfil the integration functions for rapid wound closure and facilitating wound healing.

Bioadhesives with Antimicrobial Properties

Bioadhesives with antimicrobial properties enable easier and safer treatment of wounds as compared to the traditional methods such as suturing and stapling. Composed of natural or synthetic polymers, these bioadhesives seal wounds and facilitate healing while preventing infections through the activity of locally released antimicrobial drugs, nanocomponents, or inherently antimicrobial polers. Although many different materials and strategies are employed to develop antimicrobial bioadhesives, the design of these biomaterials necessitates a prudent approach as achieving all the required properties including optimal adhesive and cohesive properties, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial activity can be challenging. Designing antimicrobial bioadhesives with tunable physical, chemical, and biological properties will shed light on the path for future advancement of bioadhesives with antimicrobial properties. In this review, the requirements and commonly used strategies for developing bioadhesives with antimicrobial properties are discussed. In particular, different methods for their synthesis and their experimental and clinical applications on a variety of organs are reviewed. Advances in the design of bioadhesives with antimicrobial properties will pave the way for a better management of wounds to increase positive clinical outcomes.

A suture-free, shape self-adaptive and bioactive PEG-Lysozyme implant for Corneal stroma defect repair and rapid vision restoration

Corneal transplantation is a prevailing treatment to repair injured cornea and restore vision but faces the limitation of donor tissue shortage clinically. In addition, suturing-needed transplantation potentially causes postoperative complications. Herein, we design a PEG-Lysozyme injective hydrogel as a suture-free, shape self-adaptive, bioactive implant for corneal stroma defect repair. This implant experiences a sol-gel phase transition via an in situ amidation reaction between 4-arm-PEG-NHS and lysozyme. The physicochemical properties of PEG-Lysozyme can be tuned by the components ratio, which confers the implant mimetic corneal modulus and provides tissue adhesion to endure increased intraocular pressure. In vitro tests prove that the implant is beneficial to Human corneal epithelial cells growth and migration due to the bioactivity of lysozyme. Rabbit lamellar keratoplasty experiment demonstrates that the hydrogel can be filled into defect to form a shape-adaptive implant adhered to native stroma. The implant promotes epithelialization and stroma integrity, recovering the topology of injured cornea to normal. A newly established animal forging behavior test prove a rapid visual restoration of rabbits when use implant in a suture free manner. In general, this work provides a promising preclinical practice by applicating a self-curing, shape self-adaptive and bioactive PEG-Lysozyme implant for suture-free stroma repair.

Exploring the therapeutic potential of recombinant human lysozyme: a review on wound management system with antibacterial

Lysozyme, a natural antibacterial enzyme protein, possesses the ability to dissolve the cell walls of Gram-positive bacteria, demonstrating broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Despite its significant potential in treating wound infections and promoting wound healing, its widespread clinical application has yet to be realized. Current research is primarily focused on carrier-based delivery systems for lysozyme. In this review, we discuss four delivery systems that can be employed for lysozyme in wound healing treatment, specifically hydrogels, nanofilms, electrospun fibrous membranes, and modified-lysozyme composite systems. These systems not only enhance the stability of lysozyme but also enable its controlled and sustained release at wound sites, potentially overcoming some of the challenges associated with its direct application. Lastly, we delve into the perspectives and challenges related to the use of these delivery systems, hoping to spur further research and innovation in this promising field.

Andrias Davidianus Mucus-Based Bioadhesive with Enhanced Adhesion and Wound Healing Properties

The skin secretion of Andrias davidianus (SSAD) is a novel biological adhesive raw material under development. This material exhibits robust adhesion while maintaining the flexibility of the wound. It also has the potential for large-scale production, making it promising for practical application explore. Hence, in-depth research on methods to fine-tune SSAD properties is of great importance to promote its practical applications. Herein, we aim to enhance the adhesive and healing properties of SSAD by incorporating functional components. To achieve this goal, we selected 3,4-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine and vaccarin as the functional components and mixed them with SSAD, resulting in a new bioadhesive, namely, a formulation termed "enhanced SSAD" (ESSAD). We found that the ESSAD exhibited superior adhesive properties, and its adhesive strength was improved compared with the SSAD. Moreover, ESSAD demonstrated a remarkable ability to promote wound healing. This study presents an SSAD-based bioadhesive formulation with enhanced properties, affirming the feasibility of developing SSAD-based adhesive materials with excellent performance and providing new evidence for the application of SSAD. This study also aims to show that SSAD can be mixed with other substances, and addition of effective components to SSAD can be studied to further adjust or improve its performance.

Extracellular Matrix-Mimetic Immunomodulatory Hydrogel for Accelerating Wound Healing

Macrophages play a crucial role in the complete processes of tissue repair and regeneration, and the activation of M2 polarization is an effective approach to provide a pro-regenerative immune microenvironment. Natural extracellular matrix (ECM) has the capability to modulate macrophage activities via its molecular, physical, and mechanical properties. Inspired by this, an ECM-mimetic hydrogel strategy to modulate macrophages via its dynamic structural characteristics and bioactive cell adhesion sites is proposed. The LZM-SC/SS hydrogel is in situ formed through the amidation reaction between lysozyme (LZM), 4-arm-PEG-SC, and 4-arm-PEG-SS, where LZM provides DGR tripeptide for cell adhesion, 4-arm-PEG-SS provides succinyl ester for dynamic hydrolysis, and 4-arm-PEG-SC balances the stability and dynamics of the network. In vitro and subcutaneous tests indicate the dynamic structural evolution and cell adhesion capacity promotes macrophage movement and M2 polarization synergistically. Comprehensive bioinformatic analysis further confirms the immunomodulatory ability, and reveals a significant correlation between M2 polarization and cell adhesion. A full-thickness wound model is employed to validate the induced M2 polarization, vessel development, and accelerated healing by LZM-SC/SS. This study represents a pioneering exploration of macrophage modulation by biomaterials' structures and components rather than drug or cytokines and provides new strategies to promote tissue repair and regeneration.

Hemostatic patch with ultra-strengthened mechanical properties for efficient adhesion to wet surfaces

Controlling traumatic bleeding from damaged internal organs while effectively sealing the wound is critical for saving the lives of patients. Existing bioadhesives suffer from blood incompatibility, insufficient adhesion to wet surfaces, weak mechanical properties, and complex application procedures. Here, we engineered a ready-to-use hemostatic bioadhesive with ultra-strengthened mechanical properties and fatigue resistance, robust adhesion to wet tissues within a few seconds of gentle pressing, deformability to accommodate physiological function and action, and the ability to stop bleeding efficiently. The engineered hydrogel, which demonstrated high elasticity (>900%) and toughness (>4600 kJ/m3), was formed by fine-tuning a series of molecular interactions and crosslinking mechanisms involving N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) conjugated alginate (Alg-NHS), poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), tannic acid (TA), and Fe3+ ions. Dual adhesive moieties including mussel-inspired pyrogallol/catechol and NHS synergistically enhanced wet tissue adhesion (>400 kPa in a wound closure test). In conjunction with physical sealing, the high affinity of TA/Fe3+ for blood could further augment hemostasis. The engineered bioadhesive demonstrated excellent in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility as well as improved hemostatic efficacy as compared to commercial Surgicel®. Overall, the hydrogel design strategy described herein holds great promise for overcoming existing obstacles impeding clinical translation of engineered hemostatic bioadhesives.

Multifunctional two-component in-situ hydrogel for esophageal submucosal dissection for mucosa uplift, postoperative wound closure and rapid healing

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastrointestinal tumors and premalignant lesions needs submucosal fluid cushion (SFC) for mucosal uplift before dissection, and wound care including wound closure and rapid healing postoperatively. Current SFC materials as well as materials and/or methods for post-ESD wound care have single treatment effect and hold corresponding drawbacks, such as easy dispersion, short duration, weak hemostasis and insufficient repair function. Thus, designing materials that can serve as both SFC materials and wound care is highly desired, and remains a challenge. Herein, we report a two-component in-situ hydrogel prepared from maleimide-based oxidized sodium alginate and sulfhydryl carboxymethyl-chitosan, which gelated mainly based on "click" chemistry and Schiff base reaction. The hydrogels showed short gelation time, outstanding tissue adhesion, favorable hemostatic properties, and good biocompatibility. A rat subcutaneous ultrasound model confirmed the ability of suitable mucosal uplift height and durable maintenance time of AM solution. The in vivo/in vitro rabbit liver hemorrhage model demonstrated the effects of hydrogel in rapid hemostasis and prevention of delayed bleeding. The canine esophageal ESD model corroborated that the in-situ hydrogel provided good mucosal uplift and wound closure effects, and significantly accelerated wound healing with accelerating re-epithelization and ECM remodeling post-ESD. The two-component in-situ hydrogels exhibited great potential in gastrointestinal tract ESD.

Injectable, self-healing hydrogel adhesives with firm tissue adhesion and on-demand biodegradation for sutureless wound closure

Tissue adhesives have garnered extensive interest as alternatives and supplements to sutures, whereas major challenges still remain, including weak tissue adhesion, inadequate biocompatibility, and uncontrolled biodegradation. Here, injectable and biocompatible hydrogel adhesives are developed via catalyst-free o-phthalaldehyde/amine (hydrazide) cross-linking reaction. The hydrogels demonstrate rapid and firm adhesion to various tissues, and an o-phthalaldehyde-mediated tissue adhesion mechanism is established. The hydrogel adhesives show controlled degradation profiles of 6 to 22 weeks in vivo through the incorporation of disulfide bonds into hydrogel network. In liver and blood vessel injury, the hydrogels effectively seal the incisions and rapidly stop bleeding. In rat and rabbit models of full-thickness skin incision, the hydrogel adhesives quickly close the incisions and accelerate wound healing, which exhibit efficacies superior to those of commercially available fibrin glue and cyanoacrylate glue. Thus, the hydrogel adhesives show great potential for sutureless wound closure, hemostasis sealing, and prevention of leakage in surgical applications.

In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) Loaded Alginate-Hyaluronic Acid (AlgHA) Microbeads System for Wound Healing

The management of skin injuries is one of the most common concerns in medical facilities. Different types of biomaterials with effective wound-healing characteristics have been studied previously. In this study, we used alginate (Alg) and hyaluronic acid (HA) composite (80:20) beads for the sustained release of epidermal growth factor (EGF) delivery. Heparin crosslinked AlgHA beads showed significant loading and entrapment of EGF. Encapsulated beads demonstrated biocompatibility with rat L929 cells and significant migration at the concentration of AlgHAEGF100 and AlgHAEGF150 within 24 h. Both groups significantly improved the expression of Fetal Liver Kinase 1 (FLK-1) along with the Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1) protein in rat bone Mesenchymal stem cells (rbMSCs). In vivo assessment exhibited significant epithelialization and wound closure gaps within 2 weeks. Immunohistochemistry shows markedly significant levels of ICAM-1, FLK-1, and fibronectin (FN) in the AlgHAEGF100 and AlgHAEGF150 groups. Hence, we conclude that the EGF-loaded alginate-hyaluronic acid (AlgHA) bead system can be used to promote wound healing.

A sustained-release microcarrier effectively prolongs and enhances the antibacterial activity of lysozyme

Bacterial infections have become a great threat to public health in recent years. A primary lysozyme is a natural antimicrobial protein; however, its widespread application is limited by its instability. Here, we present a poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel inverse opal particle (PHIOP) as a microcarrier of lysozyme to prolong and enhance the efficiency against bacteria. This PHIOP-based lysozyme (PHIOP-Lys) formulation is temperature-responsive and exhibits long-term sustained release of lysozyme for up to 16 days. It shows a potent antibacterial effect toward both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, which is even higher than that of free lysozyme in solution at the same concentration. PHIOPs-Lys were demonstrated to effectively inhibit bacterial infections and enhance wound healing in a full-thickness skin wound rat model. This study provides a novel pathway for prolonging the enzymatic activity and antibacterial effects of lysozyme.

Self-Adaptive Antibacterial Scaffold with Programmed Delivery of Osteogenic Peptide and Lysozyme for Infected Bone Defect Treatment

Bone defects caused by disease or trauma are often accompanied by infection, which severely disrupts the normal function of bone tissue at the defect site. Biomaterials that can simultaneously reduce inflammation and promote osteogenesis are effective tools for addressing this problem. In this study, we set up a programmed delivery platform based on a chitosan scaffold to enhance its osteogenic activity and prevent implant-related infections. In brief, the osteogenic peptide sequence (YGFGG) was modified onto the surface of cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) to form CCMV-YGFGG nanoparticles. CCMV-YGFGG exhibited good biocompatibility and osteogenic ability in vitro. Then, CCMV-YGFGG and lysozyme were loaded on the chitosan scaffold, which exhibited a good antibacterial effect and promoted bone regeneration for infected bone defect treatment. As a delivery platform, the scaffold showed staged release of lysozyme and CCMV-YGFGG, which facilitates the regeneration of infected bone defects. Our study provides a novel and promising strategy for the treatment of infected bone defects.

Bilayer hydrogel dressing with lysozyme-enhanced photothermal therapy for biofilm eradication and accelerated chronic wound repair

Biofilms are closely associated with the tough healing and dysfunctional inflammation of chronic wounds. Photothermal therapy (PTT) emerged as a suitable alternative which could destroy the structure of biofilms with local physical heat. However, the efficacy of PTT is limited because the excessive hyperthermia could damage surrounding tissues. Besides, the difficult reserve and delivery of photothermal agents makes PTT hard to eradicate biofilms as expectation. Herein, we present a GelMA-EGF/Gelatin-MPDA-LZM bilayer hydrogel dressing to perform lysozyme-enhanced PTT for biofilms eradication and a further acceleration to the repair of chronic wounds. Gelatin was used as inner layer hydrogel to reserve lysozyme (LZM) loaded mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) (MPDA-LZM) nanoparticles, which could rapidly liquefy while temperature rising so as to achieve a bulk release of nanoparticles. MPDA-LZM nanoparticles serve as photothermal agents with antibacterial capability, could deeply penetrate and destroy biofilms. In addition, the outer layer hydrogel consisted of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) promoted wound healing and tissue regeneration. It displayed remarkable efficacy on alleviating infection and accelerating wound healing in vivo. Overall, the innovative therapeutic strategy we came up with has significant effect on biofilms eradication and shows promising application in promoting the repair of clinical chronic wounds.

The Adsorption of Lysozyme on Living Escherichia Coli Bacterial Cells in the Presence of Charged Amino Acids and Glycine

The effect of glycine, glutamate, aspartate, lysine, histidine, and arginine on the adsorption of lysozyme on living Escherichia coli bacterial cells under conditions close to those for the functioning of the enzyme in saliva was studied. It was shown that the addition of the listed amino acids at concentrations of 1.5 mM for glycine and 5 mM for charged amino acids reduced the desorption constant of lysozyme by 1.4–2.0 times, while the rate of cell lysis (lysozyme activity) increased by 1.4–1.9 times. The maximum amount of lysozyme that can bind to bacteria (adsorption capacity) did not change. An increase in the efficiency of cell lysis in the presence of glycine and charged amino acids can be explained by an increase in the productive adsorption of the enzyme on the surface of bacterial cells.

Multiscale Spectral Analysis on Lysozyme Aqueous Solutions in the Presence of PolyEthyleneGlycol

Infrared spectroscopy measurements were performed on Lysozyme aqueous solutions also in the presence of PolyEthylene Glycol (PEG 400) as a function of an increasing temperature from T = 27 °C to 90 °C, and, successively in sequence, by decreasing temperatures from T = 90 °C to 27 °C. Data were analyzed by evaluating the spectral difference with respect to the initial spectrum collected at 27 °C. This procedure allows to quantitatively evaluate the thermal restraint related to the thermal scan from T = 27 °C to 90 °C, as well as to introduce a spectral resilience concerning the entire increasing and decreasing thermal paths which allow to highlight the bioprotectant effectiveness of low molecular weight PEG. In particular, the main purpose of the present work is to highlight the effects of a thermal treatment on a mixture of Lysozyme/water and of Lysozyme/water/PEG 400 during an increasing temperature scan, and then after a successive decreasing temperature scan, in order to highlight the bioprotectant role of PEG 400. On that score, an evaluation of the spectral distances of the registered spectra as a function of increasing and decreasing temperatures has been performed and analyzed.

Application of single and cooperative different delivery systems for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD) is the most universal pathogenesis of low back pain (LBP), a prevalent and costly medical problem across the world. Persistent low back pain can seriously affect a patient's quality of life and even lead to disability. Furthermore, the corresponding medical expenses create a serious economic burden to both individuals and society. Intervertebral disc degeneration is commonly thought to be related to age, injury, obesity, genetic susceptibility, and other risk factors. Nonetheless, its specific pathological process has not been completely elucidated; the current mainstream view considers that this condition arises from the interaction of multiple mechanisms. With the development of medical concepts and technology, clinicians and scientists tend to intervene in the early or middle stages of intervertebral disc degeneration to avoid further aggravation. However, with the aid of modern delivery systems, it is now possible to intervene in the process of intervertebral disc at the cellular and molecular levels. This review aims to provide an overview of the main mechanisms associated with intervertebral disc degeneration and the delivery systems that can help us to improve the efficacy of intervertebral disc degeneration treatment.

Bio-macromolecular design roadmap towards tough bioadhesives

Emerging sutureless wound-closure techniques have led to paradigm shifts in wound management. State-of-the-art biomaterials offer biocompatible and biodegradable platforms enabling high cohesion (toughness) and adhesion for rapid bleeding control as well as robust attachment of implantable devices. Tough bioadhesion stems from the synergistic contributions of cohesive and adhesive interactions. This Review provides a biomacromolecular design roadmap for the development of tough adhesive surgical sealants. We discuss a library of materials and methods to introduce toughness and adhesion to biomaterials. Intrinsically tough and elastic polymers are leveraged primarily by introducing strong but dynamic inter- and intramolecular interactions either through polymer chain design or using crosslink regulating additives. In addition, many efforts have been made to promote underwater adhesion via covalent/noncovalent bonds, or through micro/macro-interlock mechanisms at the tissue interfaces. The materials settings and functional additives for this purpose and the related characterization methods are reviewed. Measurements and reporting needs for fair comparisons of different materials and their properties are discussed. Finally, future directions and further research opportunities for developing tough bioadhesive surgical sealants are highlighted.

Insights into the Role of Natural Polysaccharide-Based Hydrogel Wound Dressings in Biomedical Applications

Acute skin damage caused by burns or cuts occurs frequently in people's daily lives. Such wounds are difficult to heal normally and have persistent inflammation. Wound dressings not only improve the speed of wound healing, but also protect and cover the wound well. Hydrogels have the characteristics of good flexibility, high water content, and good biocompatibility, and are widely used in biomedicine and other fields. Common hydrogels are mainly natural hydrogels and synthetic hydrogels. Hydrogels cross-linked using different raw materials and different methods have different performance characteristics. Natural hydrogels prepared using polysaccharides are simple to obtain and have good biocompatibility, but are inferior to synthetic hydrogels in terms of mechanical properties and stability, and a single polysaccharide hydrogel cannot meet the component requirements for wound healing. Therefore, functional composite hydrogels with high mechanical properties, high biocompatibility, and high antibacterial properties are the current research hotspots. In this review, several common polysaccharides for hydrogel synthesis and the synthesis methods of polysaccharide hydrogels are introduced, and functional composite hydrogel dressings from recent years are classified. It is hoped that this can provide useful references for relevant research in this field.

Bridging wounds: tissue adhesives' essential mechanisms, synthesis and characterization, bioinspired adhesives and future perspectives

Bioadhesives act as a bridge in wound closure by forming an effective interface to protect against liquid and gas leakage and aid the stoppage of bleeding. To their credit, tissue adhesives have made an indelible impact on almost all wound-related surgeries. Their unique properties include minimal damage to tissues, low chance of infection, ease of use and short wound-closure time. In contrast, classic closures, like suturing and stapling, exhibit potential additional complications with long operation times and undesirable inflammatory responses. Although tremendous progress has been made in the development of tissue adhesives, they are not yet ideal. Therefore, highlighting and summarizing existing adhesive designs and synthesis, and comparing the different products will contribute to future development. This review first provides a summary of current commercial traditional tissue adhesives. Then, based on adhesion interaction mechanisms, the tissue adhesives are categorized into three main types: adhesive patches that bind molecularly with tissue, tissue-stitching adhesives based on pre-polymer or precursor solutions, and bioinspired or biomimetic tissue adhesives. Their specific adhesion mechanisms, properties and related applications are discussed. The adhesion mechanisms of commercial traditional adhesives as well as their limitations and shortcomings are also reviewed. Finally, we also discuss the future perspectives of tissue adhesives.

Enzyme-Triggered Crosslinked Hybrid Hydrogels for Bone Tissue Engineering

The quest to develop state-of-the-art hydrogels for bone tissue engineering has accompanied substantial innovation and significant progression in the field of bioactive hydrogels. Still, there is scope for advancement in this cell-friendly and biocompatible scaffold system. The crosslinking approaches used for hydrogel synthesis plays a decisive role in guiding and regulating the mechanical stability, network framework, macroscopic architect, immunological behaviors, and cellular responses. Until recently, enzyme-based crosslinking strategies were considered as the pinnacle in designing efficient hybrid hydrogel systems. A variety of enzymes have been explored for manufacturing hydrogels while taking the advantage of the biocompatible nature, specificity, ability to produce nontoxic by products and high efficiency of enzymes. The current review focuses on the utility of different enzymes as crosslinking agents for hydrogel formation with their application in bone tissue engineering. The field of enzyme crosslinked hydrogel synthesis is rapidly maturing with a lot of opportunities to be explored in bone tissue engineering. Enzyme-based in situ and externally crosslinked hydrogels for bone regeneration is an attractive field, and with innovation in using engineered enzymes this field will continue to flourish with clinical orientation.

Fabrication of Curcumin-Loaded Silk Fibroin and Polyvinyl Alcohol Composite Hydrogel Films for Skin Wound Healing

Skin regeneration of full-thickness wounds remains a challenge, requiring a well-regulated interplay of cell-cell and cell-matrix signaling. Herein, the composite hydrogel films composed of silk fibroin (SF) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as scaffolds loaded with curcumin nanoparticles (Cur NPs) were developed for skin wound healing. The structure and physicochemical properties of hydrogel films were first evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle, and chemical and mechanical measurements. In addition, the as-fabricated composite hydrogel films have a unique 3D structure and excellent biocompatibility that facilitates the adhesion and growth of cells. Antimicrobial tests in vitro showed that they could inhibit the growth of bacteria due to the incorporation of Cur NPs into composite hydrogel films. The efficacy of the curcumin-loaded SF/PVA composite hydrogel films for skin wound healing was investigated on the skin defect model in vivo. Immunological analysis showed that the as-fabricated Cur NP-loaded SF/PVA composite hydrogel films inhibited inflammation at the wound sites, while promoting angiogenesis during the wound healing process.

Facile preparation of PVA hydrogels with adhesive, self-healing, antimicrobial, and on-demand removable capabilities for rapid hemostasis

Multifunctional and smart hydrogel-based hemostatic materials are of great significance in the field of medical care. In this paper, a facile method for the preparation of self-healing, adhesive and on-demand removable PBO hydrogels was established with a simple mixture of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), borax and oligomeric procyanidin (OPC). In this hydrogel system, borax and OPC were used as dynamic crosslinkers to connect the PVA macromolecules through reversible borate ester bonds and hydrogen bonds, resulting in hydrogels that possess good self-healing and adhesive abilities. Furthermore, the PBO hydrogel displayed excellent antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, thanks to the adhesive property of the hydrogel and the inherent hemostatic activity of OPC, this hydrogel showed rapid hemostasis performance as concluded from the in vivo experiments of mouse liver incision, tail amputation and femoral artery models. Benefitting from the fast degradation in water, this hydrogel could be easily removed on-demand within 10 min. Therefore, this well-designed PBO hydrogel offers an important prospect as a rapid hemostatic dressing.

Cohesion mechanisms for bioadhesives

Due to the nature of non-invasive wound closure, the ability to close different forms of leaks, and the potential to immobilize various devices, bioadhesives are altering clinical practices. As one of the vital factors, bioadhesives' strength is determined by adhesion and cohesion mechanisms. As well as being essential for adhesion strength, the cohesion mechanism also influences their bulk functions and the way the adhesives can be applied. Although there are many published reports on various adhesion mechanisms, cohesion mechanisms have rarely been addressed. In this review, we have summarized the most used cohesion mechanisms. Furthermore, the relationship of cohesion strategies and adhesion strategies has been discussed, including employing the same functional groups harnessed for adhesion, using combinational approaches, and exploiting different strategies for cohesion mechanism. By providing a comprehensive insight into cohesion strategies, the paper has been integrated to offer a roadmap to facilitate the commercialization of bioadhesives.

A Dual-Bioinspired Tissue Adhesive Based on Peptide Dendrimer with Fast and Strong Wet Adhesion

Although tissue adhesives have potential advantages over traditional sutures, existing ones suffer from several limitations: slow adhesion kinetic, low mechanical strength, and poor interfacial bonding with wet biological tissues. Herein, a cooperative mussel/slug double-bioinspired hydrogel adhesive (DBHA) composed of a robust adhesive interface and a stretchable dissipative matrix is developed. The DBHA is formed by a cationic polysaccharide (chitosan), an anionic polysaccharide (carboxymethyl cellulose), and a barbell-like dendritic lysine grafted with catechol groups (G3KPCA). Compared to various commercial bio-glues and traditional adhesives, the DBHA has significantly stronger tissue adhesion and enhanced toughness both ex vivo and in vivo. Meanwhile, the DBHA exhibits fast, strong, tough, and durable adhesion to diverse ex vivo tissue surfaces with blood. The adhesion energy between the adhesive and porcine skin can reach 200-900 J m^-2 . Additionally, in vivo studies prove that DBHA has good hemostasis of rabbit artery trauma and achieves better wound healing of tissue incision than commercial bio-glues. This study provides a novel strategy for fabricating fast and strong wet adhesives, which can be used in many applications, such as soft robots, tissue adhesives and hemostats.

Hydrogels and Hydrogel Nanocomposites: Enhancing Healthcare through Human and Environmental Treatment

Humans are constantly exposed to exogenous chemicals throughout their life, which can lead to a multitude of negative health impacts. Advanced materials can play a key role in preventing or mitigating these impacts through a wide variety of applications. The tunable properties of hydrogels and hydrogel nanocomposites (e.g., swelling behavior, biocompatibility, stimuli responsiveness, functionality, etc.) have deemed them ideal platforms for removal of environmental contaminants, detoxification, and reduction of body burden from exogenous chemical exposures for prevention of disease initiation, and advanced treatment of chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. In this review, three main junctures where the use of hydrogel and hydrogel nanocomposite materials can intervene to positively impact human health are highlighted: 1) preventing exposures to environmental contaminants, 2) prophylactic treatments to prevent chronic disease initiation, and 3) treating chronic diseases after they have developed.

Injectable Hydrogel Based on Protein-Polyester Microporous Network as an Implantable Niche for Active Cell Recruitment

Despite the potential of hydrogel-based localized cancer therapies, their efficacy can be limited by cancer recurrence. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop a hydrogel system that can provoke robust and durable immune response in the human body. This study has developed an injectable protein-polymer-based porous hydrogel network composed of lysozyme and poly(ε-caprolactone-co-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone-co-lactide (PCLA) (Lys-PCLA) bioconjugate for the active recruitment dendritic cells (DCs). The Lys-PCLA bioconjugates are prepared using thiol-ene reaction between thiolated lysozyme (Lys-SH) and acrylated PCLA (PCLA-Ac). The free-flowing Lys-PCLA bioconjugate sols at low temperature transformed to immovable gel at the physiological condition and exhibited stability upon dilution with buffers. According to the in vitro toxicity test, the Lys-PCLA bioconjugate and PCLA copolymer were non-toxic to RAW 263.7 cells at higher concentrations (1000 µg/mL). In addition, subcutaneous administration of Lys-PCLA bioconjugate sols formed stable hydrogel depot instantly, which suggested the in situ gel forming ability of the bioconjugate. Moreover, the Lys-PCLA bioconjugate hydrogel depot formed at the interface between subcutaneous tissue and dermis layers allowed the active migration and recruitment of DCs. As suggested by these results, the in-situ forming injectable Lys-PCLA bioconjugate hydrogel depot may serve as an implantable immune niche for the recruitment and modification of DCs.

Wound Dressing: From Nanomaterials to Diagnostic Dressings and Healing Evaluations

Wound dressings based on nanomaterials play a crucial role in wound treatment and are widely used in a whole range of medical settings, from minor to life-threatening tissue injuries. This article presents an educational review on the accumulating knowledge in this multidisciplinary area to lay out the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead and ignite the further and faster development of clinically valuable technologies. The review analyzes the functional advantages of nanomaterial-based gauzes and hydrogels as well as hybrid structures thereof. On this basis, the review presents state-of-the-art advances to transfer the (semi)blind approaches to the evaluation of a wound state to smart wound dressings that enable real-time monitoring and diagnostic functions that could help in wound evaluation during healing. This review explores the translation of nanomaterial-based wound dressings and related medical aspects into real-world use. The ongoing challenges and future opportunities associated with nanomaterial-based wound dressings and related clinical decisions are presented and reviewed.

Development and Prospect of Esophageal Tissue Engineering

Currently, patients with esophageal cancer, especially advanced patients, usually use autologous tissue for esophageal alternative therapy. However, an alternative therapy is often accompanied by serious complications such as ischemia and leakage, which seriously affect the prognosis of patients. Tissue engineering has been widely studied as one of the ideal methods for the treatment of esophageal cancer. In view of the complex multi-layer structure of the natural esophagus, how to use the tissue engineering method to design the scaffold with structure and function matching with the natural tissue is the principle that the tissue engineering method must follow. This article will analyze and summarize the construction methods, with or without cells, and repair effects of single-layer scaffold and multi-layer scaffold. Especially in the repair of full-thickness and circumferential esophageal defects, the flexible design method and the binding force between the layers of the scaffold are very important. In short, esophageal tissue engineering technology has broad prospects and plays a more and more important role in the treatment of esophageal diseases.

Role of protein-copolymer assembly in controlling micellization process of amphiphilic triblock copolymer

HYPOTHESIS

Triblock copolymer poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-PPG-PEG) forms a well-known micellar assembly at a particular temperature. Apart from regular assembly within the copolymer, it is crucial to explore additional assembly behaviour via simple exposure of proteins which unveils biased interactions with blocks of copolymer. The current work focuses on the examination of Pluronic F108 i.e. PEG-PPG-PEG with two different proteins i.e. α-chymotrypsin (CT) and lysozyme (LSZ), aiming at probing the critical micellization temperature (CMT) and molecular level interactions.

EXPERIMENTS

Potential role of protein-copolymer assembly formation at a particular concentration of protein in modulating CMT was shown by a systematic experimental approach combined with a series of physicochemical methods. The sophisticated multiple techniques include fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, molecular docking studies were also employed to correlate theoretical insights with experimental findings.

FINDINGS

CT and LSZ decrease CMT in regular concentration-dependent manner except for particular concentration (1.5 mg/mL) of LSZ which shows anomalous behaviour in steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, temperature dependent fluorescence spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and DLS measurements. SEM and TEM results clearly reveal protein-copolymer assembly formation. The assembled structure has different biophysical properties. Docking studies elucidate several bio macromolecular interactions which can be involved in assembly formation. Based on obtained results from biophysical techniques mechanism of CMT variation was deduced. Obtained results can be useful in biosensors and targeted drug delivery systems.

Lysozymes in Fish

In recent years, the deterioration of the aquaculture ecological environment has led to a high incidence of fish diseases. Lysozymes, important antimicrobial enzymes, play an important role in the innate immune system of fish. The studies of fish lysozymes benefit the control of fish infections caused by pathogens. In this review, we reviewed recent progress in fish lysozymes, including their classification, structural characteristics, biological functions and mechanisms, tissue distributions, and properties of their recombinant proteins, which will help us to systematically understand the fish lysozymes and facilitate their applications in the fields of food and agriculture.

Applications of Lysozyme, an Innate Immune Defense Factor, as an Alternative Antibiotic

Lysozyme is a ~14 kDa protein present in many mucosal secretions (tears, saliva, and mucus) and tissues of animals and plants, and plays an important role in the innate immunity, providing protection against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Three main different types of lysozymes are known: the c-type (chicken or conventional type), the g-type (goose type), and the i-type (invertebrate type). It has long been the subject of several applications due to its antimicrobial properties. The problem of antibiotic resistance has stimulated the search for new molecules or new applications of known compounds. The use of lysozyme as an alternative antibiotic is the subject of this review, which covers the results published over the past two decades. This review is focused on the applications of lysozyme in medicine, (the treatment of infectious diseases, wound healing, and anti-biofilm), veterinary, feed, food preservation, and crop protection. It is available from a wide range of sources, in addition to the well-known chicken egg white, and its synergism with other compounds, endowed with antimicrobial activity, are also summarized. An overview of the modified lysozyme applications is provided in the form of tables.

Recent advances in materials for hemostatic management

Traumatic hemorrhage can be a fatal event, particularly when large quantities of blood are lost in a short period of time. Therefore, hemostasis has become a crucial part of emergency treatment. For small wounds, hemostasis can be achieved intrinsically depending on the body's own blood coagulation mechanism; however, for large-area wounds, particularly battlefield and complex wounds, materials delivering rapid and effective hemostasis are required. In parallel with the constant progress in science, technology, and society, advances in hemostatic materials have also undergone various iterations by integrating new ideas with old concepts. There are various natural and synthetic hemostatic materials, including hemostatic powders, adhesives, hydrogels, and tourniquets, for the treatment of severe external trauma. This review covers the differences among the currently available hemostatic materials and comprehensively describes the hemostatic effects of different materials based on the underlying mechanisms. Finally, solutions for current issues related to trauma bleeding are discussed, and the prospects of hemostatic materials are proposed.

A paintable ophthalmic adhesive with customizable properties based on symmetrical/asymmetrical cross-linking

In situ and efficient incision sealing for ophthalmic surgery remains unresolved. Current commercially available gel adhesives often suffer from unsuitable gelation time, difficulty in micro-delivery, and mismatched degradation period, leading to difficulties for application in ocular tissue areas. Herein, a novel hydrogel adhesive was developed based on the simultaneous crosslinking of poly(lysine) (PLL) and lysine (Lys) with an end-modified active ester multi-arm polyethylene glycol (PEG) via the amidation reaction, where the residual terminal active ester of PEG can also bond to amino groups on tissue to provide strong adhesion. Due to the different molecular structures around their amino groups, PLL and Lys can crosslink with 4-arm-PEG-NHS (active ester) respectively, to form symmetrical and asymmetrical crosslinking networks, which exhibit various mechanical properties. Therefore, just by adjusting PLL/Lys ratios, the PEG-PLL-Lys hydrogel can easily possess a suitable gelation time, appropriate mechanical properties and matched degradation rate. As a result, a paintable, readily accessible and biocompatible ophthalmic tissue adhesive (sealant) is prepared for sealing ocular tissue incision. Considering the simple strategy and outstanding performance, the PEG-PLL-Lys hydrogel is promising for clinical transformation.

Applications of Bioadhesives: A Mini Review

Bioadhesives have demonstrated their superiority in clinical applications as tissue adhesives, hemostats, and tissue sealants. Because of the intrinsic stickiness, the applications have been expanded to various areas, such as functional wound dressing, factor delivery vehicles, and even medical device fixation. While many literature works discussed the mechanism of bioadhesives, few of them specifically summarized the applications of bioadhesives. To fill in the blanks, this review covers recent research articles and focuses precisely on the applications of bioadhesives which can be generally classified as follows: 1) wound closure, 2) sealing leakage, and 3) immobilization, including those already in the clinic and those showing great potential in the clinic. It is expected that this article will provide a whole picture on bioadhesives' applications and lead to innovations in the application of bioadhesives in new fields.

Injectable Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Cancer Therapy

Hydrogel is a kind of 3D polymer network with strong swelling ability in water and appropriate mechanical and biological properties, which make it feasible to maintain bioactive substances and has promising applications in the fields of biomaterials, soft machines, and artificial tissues. Unfortunately, traditional hydrogels prepared by chemical crosslinking have poor mechanical properties and limited functions, which limit their further application. In recent years, with the continuous development of nanoparticle research, more and more studies have combined nanoparticles with hydrogels to make up for the shortcomings of traditional hydrogels. In this article, the types and functions of hydrogels and nanomaterials are introduced first, as well as the functions and applications of injectable nanocomposite hydrogels (INHs), then the latest progress of INHs for cancer treatment is reviewed, some existing problems are summarized, and the application prospect of NHs is prospected.

A multifunctional shape-adaptive and biodegradable hydrogel with hemorrhage control and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity for wound healing

Hemorrhage is the leading cause of preventable death of injured military and civilian patients, and subsequent infection risks endanger their lives or impede the healing of their wounds. Here, we report an injectable biodegradable hydrogel with hemostatic, antimicrobial, and healing-promoting properties. The hydrogel was prepared by dynamic cross-linking of a natural polysaccharide (dextran) with antimicrobial peptide ε-poly-l-lysine (EPL) and encapsulating base fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). The amino groups of EPL were allowed to react with the aldehyde of oxidized dextran (OD) through the Schiff-base reaction for the generation of hydrogels that have fast self-healing and injectable characteristics and adapt to the shapes of wounds. The prepared OD/EPL hydrogels promoted blood clotting in vitro and stopped bleeding in a rat liver injury model within 6 min through their platelet-aggregating ability and sealing effect. These hydrogels exhibited inherent antimicrobial effects without the use of antibiotics and effectively killed a broad spectrum of pathogenic microbes, including Gram-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Gram-negative Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and fungus Candida albicans in vitro. Moreover, these OD/EPL hydrogels were compatible with mammalian cells in vitro and in vivo and biodegradable in the mouse body. The loaded bFGF can be released sustainably, and it can promote angiogenesis, endothelial cell migration, and consequently accelerate the healing of wounds. The OD/EPL hydrogel inhibited MRSA infection in a rat full-thickness skin wound model and promoted healing. This kind of multifunctional hydrogel is a promising wound dressing for the emergency treatment of acute deep or penetrating injuries.

A reduced polydopamine nanoparticle-coupled sprayable PEG hydrogel adhesive with anti-infection activity for rapid wound sealing

There is a growing demand to develop sprayable hydrogel adhesives with rapid-forming and antibacterial abilities to instantly seal open wounds and combat pathogen infection. Herein, we propose to design a polydopamine nanoparticle (PDA NP) coupled PEG hydrogel that can quickly solidify via an amidation reaction after spraying as well as tightly binding PDA NPs to deliver reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induce a photothermal effect for bactericidal activity, and provide a hydrophilic surface for antifouling activity. The molecular structure of the 4-arm-PEG-NHS precursor was regulated to increase its reactivity with 4-arm-PEG-NH2, which thus shortened the gelation time of the PEG adhesive to 1 s to allow a fast solidification after being sprayed. The PEG-NHS precursor also provided covalent binding with tissue and PDA NPs. The reduced PDA NPs have redox activity to convey electrons to oxygen to generate ROS (H2O2), thus endowing the hydrogel with ROS dependent antibacterial ability. Moreover, NIR irradiation can accelerate the ROS release because of the photothermal effect of PDA NPs. In vitro tests demonstrated that H2O2 and the NIR-photothermal effect synergistically induced a fast bacterial killing, and an in vivo anti-infection test also proved the effectiveness of PEG-PDA. The sprayable PEG-PDA hydrogel adhesive, with rapid-forming performance and a dual bactericidal mechanism, may be promising for sealing large-scale and acute wound sites or invisible bleeding sites, and protect them from pathogen infection.

Rationally designed protein cross-linked hydrogel for bone regeneration via synergistic release of magnesium and zinc ions

The development of recombinant protein cross-linked injectable hydrogels with good mechanical strength and effective drug loading capacity for bone regeneration is extremely attractive and rarely reported. Here, we report the fabrication of a smart hydrogel delivery system by incorporating a rationally designed T4 lysozyme mutant (T4M) to mediate the localized delivery and synergistic release of Mg²⁺ and Zn²⁺ for bone repair. Apart from its intrinsic antibacterial properties, T4M bears abundant free amine groups on its surface to function as effective covalent crosslinkers to strengthen the hydrogel network as well as exhibits specific binding affinity to multivalent cations such as Zn²⁺. Moreover, the integrin receptor-binding Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence was introduced onto the C-terminus of T4 lysozyme to improve its cellular affinity and further facilitate rapid tissue regeneration. The final composite hydrogel displays excellent injectability, improved mechanical properties, antibacterial activity, and unique bioactivities. The effective loading of Mg²⁺/Zn²⁺ in the hydrogels could mediate the sequential and sustained release of Mg²⁺ and Zn²⁺, thereby resulting in synergistic enhancement on bone regeneration through modulation of the MAPK signaling pathway. We believe that the strategy proposed in this paper opens up a new route for developing protein cross-linked smart delivery systems for tissue regeneration.

Antibacterial effect against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria via lysozyme imprinted cryogel membranes

The development of novel biocompatible and cost effective cryogel membrane which shows enhanced antimicrobial properties in order to use for several approaches such as wound dressing, scaffold or food packaging was aimed in this study. A super macro porous lysozyme imprinted cryogel membranes showing antibacterial effect against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were prepared by using molecular imprinting technique. N-methacryloyl-(L)-histidine methyl ester (MAH) was used as the pseudo specific ligand and complexed with Cu⁺⁺ in order to provide metal ion coordination between MAH and template molecule (lysozyme). Comparing the antibacterial activity of different lysozyme concentrations, cryogel membranes were prepared in three different concentrations. To synthesize Poly (hydroxyethyl methacrylate-N-methacryloyl-(L)-histidine methylester) P(HEMA-MAH) cryogel membrane, free radical polymerization initiated by N, N, N', N'-tetramethylene diamine (TEMED) and ammonium persulfate (APS) was carried out at -12 °C. The characterization of the lysozyme imprinted cryogel membrane was accomplished by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), swelling degree measurements and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy. The cytotoxicity test of produced membrane was performed by using mouse fibroblast cell line L929. The antibacterial activity of P(HEMA-MAH) lysozyme molecular imprinted [P(HEMA-MAH) Lyz-MIP] cryogel membranes against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were determined by Kirby-Bauer membranes diffusion and viable cell counting methods. When the antibacterial effect of P(HEMA-MAH) Lyz-MIP cryogel membranes were evaluated, it was found that P(HEMA-MAH) Lyz-MIP cryogel membranes had stronger antibacterial effects against Gram-negative E. coli bacteria even in low lysozyme concentrations. In addition, 100% bacterial inhibition was detected for both of two bacteria at increasing lysozyme concentrations.