A General "Two-Lock" Strategy to Enhance Drug Loading and Lysosomal Escape in Intelligent Boronate Ester Polymer Nanoparticles for Improved Chemotherapy.

Boronate ester can be used to prepare intelligent polymer nanoparticles (NPs). However, the traditional boronate ester polymer NPs made of boronic acid and diols using a "single-lock" strategy (B-O NPs) exhibit low drug loading capacity (DLC) and insufficient lysosomal escape ability, resulting in limited antitumor efficacy. We develop a "two-lock" strategy that combines dodecanamine and boronic acid using boron-nitrogen (B ← N) coordination to enhance the formation of a boronate ester polymer.

Quantitative features of osteo-bioactive Ti surfaces at the atomic/molecular level.

The osteo-bioactive potential of biomaterials can be modulated by altering material properties such as chemical composition, surface topography, and geometry. The correlation between the physicochemical properties of biomaterials and their osteo-bioactivity is highly complex. As a material widely used in bone repair, the structure-activity/dose-effect relationship between titanium (Ti) surface features and osteo-bioactivity remains unclear.

Reinforced enzyme mineralized chitosan hydrogels with superior mechanical and osteogenic properties.

As a natural cationic polymer material, the application of chitosan hydrogel for bone tissue engineering has been greatly limited due to its poor mechanical strength. Enzymatic mineralization has drawn increased attention to effectively improve the mechanical properties of hydrogels. In this study, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) hydrogels cross-linked with different concentrations of genipin (2.

Polyphenol enhances the functionality of borate hydrogel in wound repair by regulating the wound microenvironment.

Wound infections represent a significant clinical challenge. In this study, a polyphenol (tannic acid, TA)-enhanced borate hydrogel modulating the tissue microenvironment to promote wound healing was designed as an antimicrobial hydrogel. The physical properties of the multiply cross-linked borate hydrogel were analyzed using a combination of techniques, including FT-IR, H NMR, SEM, and rheological analysis.

Correction: Multiple pH responsive zwitterionic micelles for stealth delivery of anticancer drugs.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C6RA11645K.].

Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Extracellular Vesicles Are a Promising Alternative to Antibiotics for Treating Sepsis.

Sepsis is a life-threatening disease caused by the overwhelming response to pathogen infections. Currently, treatment options for sepsis are limited to broad-spectrum antibiotics and supportive care. However, the growing resistance of pathogens to common antibiotics complicates treatment efforts.

Multifunctional Network-Shaped Hydrogel Assemblies.

The previously reported hydrogel assemblies carry bulky shapes, for which the unitary assembly form immensely restricted further applications. Yet there are abundant natural examples of network-shaped assemblies constructed by animals, of which it is brought up inspirations for constructing hydrogel assemblies. Herein, the network-shaped assemblies with diverse functions are reported.

Temperature-Responsive Hydrogel System Integrating Wound Temperature Monitoring and On-demand Drug Release for Sequentially Inflammatory Process Regulation of Wound Healing.

Wound healing faces challenges like inflammation, infection, and limited monitoring capabilities, and traditional dressings often lack the ability to promote healing or provide real-time wound status updates. Early pro-inflammatory responses help clear pathogens and damaged tissue, while timely anti-inflammatory modulation aids tissue regeneration, making sequential inflammation regulation crucial. Additionally, wound temperature, a key infection biomarker, enables real-time monitoring for effective management.

Poly(thioctic acid) Hydrogels Integrated with Self-Healing, Bioadhesion, Antioxidation, and Antibiosis for Infected Wound Treatment.

Bacterial infections pose significant challenges in wound healing and are a serious threat to human health. Hydrogels have emerged as an ideal wound dressing due to their three-dimensional network, which facilitates exudate absorption and maintains a moist environment conducive to healing. Herein, we developed integrated hydrogels composed of poly(thioctic acid) (PTA), polydopamine (PDA), and curcumin (Cur).

Bioinspired Ultrasensitive Flexible Strain Sensors for Real-Time Wireless Detection of Liquid Leakage.

Liquid leakage of pipeline networks not only results in considerable resource wastage but also leads to environmental pollution and ecological imbalance. In response to this global issue, a bioinspired superhydrophobic thermoplastic polyurethane/carbon nanotubes/graphene nanosheets flexible strain sensor (TCGS) has been developed using a combination of micro-extrusion compression molding and surface modification for real-time wireless detection of liquid leakage. The TCGS utilizes the synergistic effects of Archimedean spiral crack arrays and micropores, which are inspired by the remarkable sensory capabilities of scorpions.

Hydrogel design and applications for periodontitis therapy: A review.

Periodontitis is a prevalent oral disease characterized by microbial infection, inflammation, and damage to periodontal tissues. Hydrogels have emerged as promising carriers and regenerative biomaterials in periodontitis therapy. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in hydrogel applications for treating periodontitis.

A Versatile Composite Hydrogel with Spatiotemporal Drug Delivery of Mesoporous ZnO and Recombinant Human Collagen for Diabetic Infected Wound Healing.

Diabetic wounds are increasingly common and challenging to treat due to high infection risks in a high-glucose environment. Effective treatment requires wound dressings that combat infections, while promoting angiogenesis and skin regeneration. This study presents a hydrogel-based drug delivery system made from cellulose designed to accelerate diabetic wound healing by eliminating bacterial infections.

Cell-microsphere based living microhybrids for osteogenesis regulating to boosting biomineralization.

Biomineralization-based cell-material living composites showed great potential for living materials construction and cell regulation. However, cells in scaffolds with unconnected pores usually induce confined nutrient transfer and cell-cell communications, affecting the transformation of osteoblasts into osteocytes and the mineralization process. Herein, the osteoblast-materials living hybrids were constructed with porous PLLA microspheres using a rational design, in which cell-based living materials presented an improved osteoblast differentiation and mineralization model using rationally designed cell-microsphere composites.

Exploring the role of ATF3 and ferroptosis-related RNA expression in osteoarthritis: An RNA analysis approach to immune infiltration.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread joint disorder that is primarily noted for the progressive degeneration of joint cartilage, accompanied by a significant inflammatory response. Recently, there has been a growing interest in understanding the roles of ATF3 and ferritin-related RNAs in the context of immune responses and inflammatory processes. However, their specific functions and mechanisms in the progression of osteoarthritis have remained largely ambiguous and underexplored.

Immunomodulatory effects of calcium phosphate microspheres: influences of particle size on macrophage polarization and secretion patterns.

This study investigated the immunomodulatory effects of calcium phosphate (CaP) microspheres, focusing on how particle size influenced macrophage polarization and cytokine secretion patterns. SEM analysis revealed that HA microspheres predominantly exhibited a spherical shape with distinct sizes and sub-micro-sized pores. The average particle sizes for the S1, S2, and S3 groups were 17.

Ion-exchange induced multiple effects to promote uranium uptake from nonmarine water by micromotors.

As the fundamental resource in nuclear energy, uranium is a sword of two sides, due to its radioactive character that could cause severe impact to the environment and living creatures once released by accident. However, limited by the passive ion transport, the currently available uranium adsorbents still suffer from low adsorption kinetics and capacity. Here, we report a self-driven modular micro-reactor composed of magnetizable ion-exchange resin and adsorbents that can be used to dynamically remove uranium from nonmarine waters.

Curcumin-incorporated EGCG-based nano-antioxidants alleviate colon and kidney inflammation via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory therapy.

Natural remedies are gaining attention as promising approaches to alleviating inflammation, yet their full potential is often limited by challenges such as poor bioavailability and suboptimal therapeutic effects. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a novel nano-antioxidant (EK) based on epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) aimed at enhancing the oral and systemic bioavailability, as well as the anti-inflammatory efficacy, of curcumin (Cur) in conditions such as acute colon and kidney inflammation. EK is synthesized using a straightforward Mannich reaction between EGCG and L-lysine (K), resulting in the formation of EGCG oligomers.