MSCs-laden silk Fibroin/GelMA hydrogels with incorporation of platelet-rich plasma for chondrogenic construct

The preparation of silk fibroin-based hydrogels and their applications in cartilage repair

With the social development, the number of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) is increasing year by year, making it crucial to explore novel therapies and treatments to facilitate cartilage repair. Among these, hydrogels have become a center of conversation as potential cartilage substitutes in view of their swelling capacity, mechanical properties, lubricating performance, and other characteristics similar with that of extracellular matrix of articular cartilage. Therefore, it is of important values to generate multi-functional hydrogels with various bioactive materials for cartilage repair. As a natural fibrous protein known for its wonderful biocompatibility, degradability, as well as mechanical strength, silk fibroin (SF) with collagen-like structure has been widely applied in cartilage repair. Therefore, utilizing SF to construct hydrogels through various crosslinking methods shows greater application potential in cartilage repair and the treatment of OA. Besides having the benefits of both SF and hydrogels, the resulting SF-based hydrogels can further load various drugs, growth factors, stem cells, etc., so as to effectively promote cartilage repair. This review summarized the construction methods of SF-based hydrogels and the research progress in cartilage repair. The future development for SF-based hydrogels in cartilage repair was also discussed, which lay the foundation for further treatment of OA.

Research progress on biodegradable polymer-based drug delivery systems for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a disease that involves multiple anatomical and physiological changes in the knee tissues, including cartilage degeneration, bone remodelling and formation of bony encumbrances, which leads to clinical manifestations including pain, stiffness, swelling and limitation of knee function. Knee osteoarthritis is a chronic joint disease characterised by degenerative cartilage lesions and secondary osteophytes in the knee joint. The symptoms of knee osteoarthritis tend to progress slowly, and at this stage, the number of patients with KOA is increasing. However, due to the adverse effects and poor therapeutic outcomes following surgical treatment, intervention therapy through the utilisation of biodegradable polymeric materials is required. Currently, clinical aspects are mainly used to treat cartilage degeneration in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee by using different kinds of biodegradable biopolymer materials with excellent physical properties, histocompatibility and other properties, combined with a drug delivery system, which can reduce the level of inflammation and stiffness in the focal area, and maximise the restoration of the patient's knee joint joint mobility and athletic ability. Based on the properties of the polymeric material drug delivery system, the polymeric material has a variable drug loading capacity that encapsulates hydrophobic/hydrophilic drugs and controls the release kinetics by regulating the composition and charge. This paper reviews the research progress of Poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL), Poly(lactic acid) (PLA), Poly (lactic glycolic acid) (PLGA), Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) synthetic polymers and collagen, chondroitin sulfate, other natural polymers based drug delivery systems for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, and explains that different biodegradable polymeric materials have been widely used for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. However, there are still issues of degradability, toxicity, compatibility, and durability and safety of the drug delivery system of degradable materials that need to be addressed in further clinical trials. As biodegradable biomedical materials continue to be explored, eventually idealized polymeric materials will stand out in the treatment of KOA.

Silk fibroin-based hydrogels for cartilage organoids in osteoarthritis treatment

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disease characterized by cartilage degeneration. It can cause severe pain, deformity and even amputation risk. However, existing clinical treatment methods for cartilage repair present certain deficiencies. Meanwhile, the repair effect of cartilage tissue engineering is also unsatisfactory. Cartilage organoids are multicellular aggregates with cartilage-like three-dimensional structure and function. On the one hand, cartilage organoids can be used to explore the pathogenesis of OA by constructing disease models. On the other hand, it can be used as filler for rapid cartilage repair. Extracellular matrix (ECM)-like three-dimensional environment is the key to construct cartilage organoids. Silk fibroin (SF)-based hydrogels not only have ECM-like structure, but also have unique mechanical properties and remarkable biocompatibility. Therefore, SF-based hydrogels are considered as ideal biomaterials for constructing cartilage organoids. In this review, we reviewed the studies of cartilage organoids and SF-based hydrogels. The advantages of SF-based hydrogels in constructing cartilage organoids and the iterative optimization of cartilage organoids through designing hydrogels by using artificial intelligence (AI) calculation are also discussed. This review aims to provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of OA using SF-based biomaterials and cartilage organoids.

Injectable GelMA Hydrogel Microspheres with Sustained Release of Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Thin Endometrium

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) intrauterine infusion has been demonstrated to be effective in treating thin endometrium and achieving pregnancy. However, the rapid release of growth factors limits its effectiveness in clinical applications, and thus, multiple intrauterine infusions are often required to achieve therapeutic efficacy. In this study, a GelMA hydrogel microsphere biomaterial is developed using droplet microfluidics to modify the delivery mode of PRP and thus prolong its duration of action. Its biocompatibility is confirmed through both in vivo and in vitro studies. Cell experiments show that PRP-loaded microspheres significantly enhance cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. In vivo experiments show that the effects of PRP-loaded microspheres on repairing the endometrium and restoring fertility in mice could achieve the impact of triple PRP intrauterine infusions. Further mechanistic investigations reveal that PRP could facilitate endometrial repair by regulating the expression of E2Fs, a group of transcription factors. This study demonstrates that hydrogel microspheres could modify the delivery of PRP and prolong its duration of action, enabling endometrial repair and functional reconstruction. This design avoids repeated intrauterine injections of PRP in the clinic, reduces the number of patient visits, and provides a new avenue for clinical treatment of thin endometrium.

Mechanisms and applications of the regenerative capacity of platelets-based therapy in knee osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent joint disease in the elderly population and its substantial morbidity and disability impose a heavy economic burden on patients and society. Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is the most common subtype of OA, which is characterized by damage to progressive articular cartilage, synovitis, and subchondral bone sclerosis. Most current treatments for OA are palliative, primarily aim at symptom management, and do not prevent the progression of the disease or restore degraded cartilage. The activation of α-granules in platelets releases various growth factors that are involved in multiple stages of tissue repair, suggesting potential for disease modification. In recent years, platelet-based therapies, such as platelet-rich plasma, platelet-rich fibrin, and platelet lysates, have emerged as promising regenerative treatments for KOA, but their related effects and mechanisms are still unclear. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the biological characteristics and functions of platelets, classify the products of platelet-based therapy and related preparation methods. Moreover, we summarize the basic research of platelet-based regeneration strategies for KOA and discuss the cellular effects and molecular mechanisms. Further, we describe the general clinical application of platelet-based therapy in the treatment of KOA and the results of the meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Curcumin-shellac nanoparticle-loaded GelMA/SilMA hydrogel for colorectal cancer therapy

In this study, a novel approach was employed to develop a therapeutic system for colorectal cancer treatment. Specifically, a GelMA/SilMA hydrogel loaded with curcumin-shellac nanoparticles (Cur@Lac NPs) was created. A microfluidic swirl mixer was utilized to formulate stable Cur@Lac NPs, ensuring their consistent and effective encapsulation. The pH-specific release of curcumin from the NPs demonstrated their potential for colon cancer treatment. By carefully regulating the ratio of GelMA (gelatin methacrylate) and SilMA (silk fibroin methacrylate), a GelMA/SilMA dual network hydrogel was generated, offering controlled release and degradation capabilities. The incorporation of SilMA notably enhanced the mechanical properties of the dual network matrix, improving compression resistance and mitigating deformation. This mechanical improvement is crucial for maintaining the structural integrity of the hydrogel during in vivo applications. In comparison to the direct incubation of curcumin, the strategy of encapsulating curcumin into NPs and embedding them within the GelMA/SilMA hydrogel resulted in more controlled release mechanisms. This controlled release was achieved through the disintegration of the NPs and the swelling and degradation of the hydrogel matrix. The encapsulating strategy also demonstrated enhanced cellular uptake of curcumin, leveraging the advantages of both NPs and in-situ hydrogel injection. This combination ensures a more efficient and sustained delivery of the therapeutic agent directly to the tumor site. Overall, this approach holds significant promise as a smart drug delivery system, potentially improving the efficacy of colorectal cancer treatments by providing targeted, controlled, and sustained drug release with enhanced mechanical stability and biocompatibility.

Recent Achievements in the Development of Biomaterials Improved with Platelet Concentrates for Soft and Hard Tissue Engineering Applications

Platelet concentrates such as platelet-rich plasma, platelet-rich fibrin or concentrated growth factors are cost-effective autologous preparations containing various growth factors, including platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor β, insulin-like growth factor 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor. For this reason, they are often used in regenerative medicine to treat wounds, nerve damage as well as cartilage and bone defects. Unfortunately, after administration, these preparations release growth factors very quickly, which lose their activity rapidly. As a consequence, this results in the need to repeat the therapy, which is associated with additional pain and discomfort for the patient. Recent research shows that combining platelet concentrates with biomaterials overcomes this problem because growth factors are released in a more sustainable manner. Moreover, this concept fits into the latest trends in tissue engineering, which include biomaterials, bioactive factors and cells. Therefore, this review presents the latest literature reports on the properties of biomaterials enriched with platelet concentrates for applications in skin, nerve, cartilage and bone tissue engineering.

The three-dimensional culture of L929 and C2C12 cells based on SPI-SA interpenetrating network hydrogel scaffold with excellent mechanical properties

Cell-cultured meat, which is obtained by adsorbing cells on the three-dimensional scaffold, is considered a potential solution to animal welfare issues. Edible and safe cell-cultured meat scaffolds are a key part of its research. Soy protein isolate (SPI) hydrogel has a three-dimensional network structure and has been studied for L929 cell culture because of its non-toxicity and biocompatibility. However, the toughness and mechanical properties of SPI hydrogel are not enough to bear the requirements of cell cultivation. In this paper, sodium alginate (SA) was added to SPI hydrogel, and the interpenetrating network (IPN) technology was used to construct SPI-SA IPN hydrogel by transglutaminase and Ca2+ double crosslinking method. SPI-SA IPN hydrogel has excellent mechanical properties, structural stability and biodegradable performance than SPI hydrogel. The bio-compatibility and degradability of L929 and C2C12 cells on SPI-SA IPN hydrogel were studied by cytotoxicity, trypan blue and living/dead cell staining, and the growth law of the hydrogel as a scaffold for cell culture was analyzed. The results showed that L929/C2C12 cells can proliferate normally and adhere in hydrogel and have good bio-compatibility. L929 cells with size about 20-50 µm have better adhesion and growth abilities on SPI-SA IPN hydrogel than C2C12 cells with 100-300 µm. Therefore, the SPI-SA IPN hydrogel is non-toxic and supports the growth of cells in the pores of the material. This study provides a reference for the application of SPI-SA IPN hydrogels in vitro cell growth.

Platelet Concentrates Preconditioning of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Combined Therapies: Integrating Regenerative Strategies for Enhanced Clinical Applications

This article presents a comprehensive review of the factors influencing the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation and its association with platelet concentrates (PCs). It focuses on investigating the impact of PCs' composition, the age and health status of platelet donors, application methods, and environmental factors on the outcomes of relevant treatments. In addition, it delves into the strategies and mechanisms for optimizing MSCs transplantation with PCs, encompassing preconditioning and combined therapies. Furthermore, it provides an in-depth exploration of the signaling pathways and proteomic characteristics associated with preconditioning and emphasizes the efficacy and specific effects of combined therapy. The article also introduces the latest advancements in the application of biomaterials for optimizing regenerative medical strategies, stimulating scholarly discourse on this subject. Through this comprehensive review, the primary goal is to facilitate a more profound comprehension of the factors influencing treatment outcomes, as well as the strategies and mechanisms for optimizing MSCs transplantation and the application of biomaterials in regenerative medicine, offering theoretical guidance and practical references for related research and clinical practice.

Xanthohumol alleviates palmitate-induced inflammation and prevents osteoarthritis progression by attenuating mitochondria dysfunction/NLRP3 inflammasome axis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent chronic degenerative joint disease worldwide. Obesity has been linked to OA, and increased free fatty acid levels (e.g., palmitate) contribute to inflammatory responses and cartilage degradation. Xanthohumol (Xn), a bioactive prenylated chalcone, was shown to exhibit antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity capacities in multiple diseases. However, a clear description of the preventive effects of Xn on obesity-associated OA is unavailable. This study aimed to assess the chondroprotective function of Xn on obesity-related OA. The in vitro levels of inflammatory and ECM matrix markers in human chondrocytes were assessed after the chondrocytes were treated with PA and Xn. Additionally, in vivo cartilage degeneration was assessed following oral administration of HFD and Xn. This study found that Xn treatment completely reduces the inflammation and extracellular matrix degradation caused by PA. The proposed mechanism involves AMPK signaling pathway activation by Xn, which increases mitochondrial biogenesis, attenuates mitochondrial dysfunction, and inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome and the NF-κB signaling pathway induced by PA. In summary, this study highlights that Xn could decrease inflammation reactions and the degradation of the cartilage matrix induced by PA by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome and attenuating mitochondria dysfunction in human chondrocytes.