Dual-crosslinked network of polyacrylamide-carboxymethylcellulose hydrogel promotes osteogenic differentiation in vitro

Design and characterization of high-performance energetic hydrogels with enhanced mechanical and explosive properties

Polymeric hydrogels, known for their excellent mechanical properties and pre-cross-linking flowability, provide a promising solution for recycling waste propellants, ensuring safety and maintaining explosive performance. This study developed a double cross-linked network energetic hydrogel that effectively combines mechanical strength with explosive capabilities. Using a Ford 4 Cup, temperature data logger, universal testing machine, and detonation performance tests, we examined the impacts of kinematic viscosity, cross-linking time, compressive strength, and explosive properties. The optimal kinematic viscosity for stabilizing hollow glass microspheres (GM) was found to be 129.7 mm2/s. Cross-linking time was negatively correlated with initiator, catalyst levels, and reaction temperature, but positively correlated with retarder content. Compressive strength increased with acrylamide (AM) content and showed an initial rise before decreasing with N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAA) content and reaction temperature. The maximum compressive strength was achieved with 5% MBAA (of AM mass fraction) at 40 °C. Detonation velocity and steel plate damage decreased with increasing AM content and initially increased then decreased with GM content. A balance of mechanical and explosive properties was achieved with 6% AM and 4% GM, resulting in a detonation velocity of 4536 m/s. This hydrogel shows significant potential for waste munitions management.

Study of Injectable Hydrogel Based on ALN/nHA Promoting Osteogenesis and Inhibiting Osteoclasts in Osteoporotic Bone Defects Repair

Osteoporotic bone defects cannot withstand surgery with more significant trauma due to bone fragility, while systemic drug therapy has formidable adverse effects. Consequently, the present study introduces an innovatively devised injectable double-crosslinked hydrogel, as a potential therapeutic avenue for addressing varied shapes of osteoporotic bone defects via a minimally invasive approach. The injectable hydrogel is formed by the formation of Schiff base bonds between oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) and carboxymethyl chitosan, and the polymerization of gelatin methacrylate by UV light crosslinking. Additionally, alendronate sodium (ALN) is loaded into the hydrogel through Schiff base formation with OSA, and nanohydroxyapatite (nHA) is incorporated into the hydrogel via blending. The hydrogel demonstrates excellent injectability, and the nHA improves the mechanical properties of hydrogel and can promote bone formation. In addition, the hydrogel can sustain the release of ALN, which has the effect of inhibiting osteoclasts. Cell studies indicate that the hydrogel can promote the differentiation of osteoblasts and inhibit the activity of osteoclast, so as to obtain better osteogenic effect. Therefore, the injectable hydrogel can be used to repair osteoporotic bone defects through a minimally invasive, simple treatment modality.

Zeolite imidazolate framework-8 in bone regeneration: A systematic review

Zeolite imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) is a biomaterial that has been increasingly studied in recent years. It has several applications such as bone regeneration, promotion of angiogenesis, drug loading, and antibacterial activity, and exerts multiple effects to deal with various problems in the process of bone regeneration. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the applications and effectiveness of ZIF-8 in bone regeneration. A search of papers published in the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases revealed 532 relevant studies. Title, abstract, and full-text screening resulted in 39 papers being included in the review, including 39 in vitro and 22 animal studies. Appropriate concentrations of nano ZIF-8 can promote cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation by releasing Zn2+ and entering the cell, whereas high doses of ZIF-8 are cytotoxic and inhibit osteogenic differentiation. In addition, five studies confirmed that ZIF-8 exhibits good vasogenic activity. In all in vivo experiments, nano ZIF-8 promoted bone formation. These results indicate that, at appropriate concentrations, materials containing ZIF-8 promote bone regeneration more than materials without ZIF-8, and with characteristics such as promoting angiogenesis, drug loading, and antibacterial activity, it is expected to show promising applications in the field of bone regeneration. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This manuscript reviewed the use of ZIF-8 in bone regeneration, clarified the biocompatibility and effectiveness in promoting bone regeneration of ZIF-8 materials, and discussed the possible mechanisms and factors affecting its promotion of bone regeneration. Overall, this study provides a better understanding of the latest advances in the field of bone regeneration of ZIF-8, serves as a design guide, and contributes to the design of future experimental studies.

3D-Printed Flat-Bone-Mimetic Bioceramic Scaffolds for Cranial Restoration

The limitations of autologous bone grafts necessitate the development of advanced biomimetic biomaterials for efficient cranial defect restoration. The cranial bones are typical flat bones with sandwich structures, consisting of a diploe in the middle region and 2 outer compact tables. In this study, we originally developed 2 types of flat-bone-mimetic β-tricalcium phosphate bioceramic scaffolds (Gyr-Comp and Gyr-Tub) by high-precision vat-photopolymerization-based 3-dimensional printing. Both scaffolds had 2 outer layers and an inner layer with gyroid pores mimicking the diploe structure. The outer layers of Gyr-Comp scaffolds simulated the low porosity of outer tables, while those of Gyr-Tub scaffolds mimicked the tubular pore structure in the tables of flat bones. The Gyr-Comp and Gyr-Tub scaffolds possessed higher compressive strength and noticeably promoted in vitro cell proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, and angiogenic activities compared with conventional scaffolds with cross-hatch structures. After implantation into rabbit cranial defects for 12 weeks, Gyr-Tub achieved the best repairing effects by accelerating the generation of bone tissues and blood vessels. This work provides an advanced strategy to prepare biomimetic biomaterials that fit the structural and functional needs of efficacious bone regeneration.

Green synthesis of metal-organic framework loaded dexamethasone on wood aerogels for enhanced cranial bone regeneration

Bone defects have attracted increasing attention in clinical settings. To date, there have been no effective methods to repair defective bones. Balsa wood aerogels are considered as an excellent source of chemicals for chemical modification to facilitate the in situ immobilization of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8. Furthermore, dexamethasone has received considerable attention for bone tissue engineering. In this study, for the first time, a simple but effective one-pot method for developing a novel zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 with different concentrations of dexamethasone was developed. These findings illustrate that the novel scaffold has a significant positive impact on osteogenic differentiation in vitro and repairs defects in vivo, suggesting that it can be used in bone tissue engineering.