Themed collection Biomaterials Science Emerging Investigator Series

Hydrophilic polymers are essential components in biomaterials science. Recent research has highlighted the use of poly(ylides) as charge-neutral, hydrophilic polymers, advocating for their classification as a standalone class of polymers.

Biological liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) provides novel insights for the assembly of biomaterials with tailored structure and intrinsic functionality.

The nanoparticle biomolecular corona is affected by patients’ pre-existing conditions and it should be considered when developing novel immunotherapeutics.

Designing tissue-specific bioinks to replicate actual tissue environments and desired biomechanical properties.

In embedded extrusion 3D bioprinting, a temporary matrix preserves a paste-like filament ejecting from a narrow nozzle.

Splittable systems divide active molecules into inactive parts that recombine under specific conditions for versatile biomedical uses. Applications include immunotherapy, gene editing, prodrug activation, synthetic biology, and biosensing.

Self-assembled models offer advantages in studying neural development, but standardisation, control, and scalability are limited. Engineering hydrogel-based models to mimic native tissue structures shows promise in overcoming these challenges.

Non-viral vector-based CRISPR-Cas-mediated immunoengineering in tumor cells and immune cells for cancer immunotherapy.

Nanozymes, a distinctive class of nanomaterials with enzyme-like activity and kinetics akin to enzyme-catalysed reactions, present several advantages over natural enzymes, including cost-effectiveness, heightened stability, and adjustable activity.

In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the nanoparticle-based CpG delivery systems developed to improve the efficacy of CpG-mediated immune responses.

Craniomaxillofacial bone serves a variety of functions.

The magnetically anisotropic structure confers unique properties and promising application prospects to hydrogels in tissue engineering.

This review summarizes the biological function of PEVs, introduces recent applications of PEVs in targeted drug delivery and makes an outlook for the further development of utilizing PEVs for drug delivery.

Microneedles are designed to mediate biofluid extraction and achieve transdermal biosensing and diagnosis.

This review mainly summarises the recent progress in the development of organic photosensitizers, including porphyrins, chlorophyll, phenothiazines, xanthenes and aggregation-induced emission photosensitizers, for antimicrobial photodynamic therapy.

Cell delivery is a major determinant of success in mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapies. Cellular modifications and biomaterial-assisted approaches can enhance the engraftment, retention, and survival of implanted cells for improved tissue repair.

This review aims to highlight the new strategies regulating the tissue distribution, cell internalization, and drug release of lipid-based nanoparticles in vivo, focusing on ways to improve their structural and componential design.

A snapshot of nano-based drug delivery systems for ocular diseases in the preclinical/clinical studies and examples of novel nano-based eye drops for the treatment of posterior segment of the eye.

In this review, we discuss the nanomedicines that can regulate mechanical stiffness, solid stress, and IFP, with a focus on how nanomedicines change abnormal mechanical properties and facilitate drug delivery.

This review summarizes the latest advances in TfR1-targeted nanomedicine for brain tumor therapy.

This is the first comprehensive review of glutathione peroxidase-like nanozymes which discusses their mechanism, classification, and bioapplication to further develop this field.

This review highlights the importance of cell metabolism as a missing link connecting the cellular behavior and physicochemical properties of biomaterials and serves as a guiding principle for designing scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

Different techniques developed for the encapsulation of biological drugs within polymeric nanoparticles.

Review on the biodistribution of mRNA-nanocarrier in primary organs highlighting key parameters for optimal protein expression.

Modified nanoparticles for targeting atherosclerotic overexpressed receptors.

This review summarizes recent progress in the development of biomimetic, membrane-wrapped nanoparticles for targeted delivery of nucleic acids (including siRNA, pDNA, and CpG ODNs) to manage cancer.

This review provides a comprehensive understanding about how different classes of biomaterials, starting from macroscale to nanoscale, interact with bacteria and viruses to exert their antimicrobial properties through diverse mechanisms of action.

Precise control of antimicrobial delivery can prevent the adverse effects of antibiotics.

Suppressive T cells induce anti-inflammatory responses in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) which then reverse inflammation of the joints.

Our study pioneers a post-modification strategy using antifouling terpolymer nano-brushes grafted onto long-period grating fibres, achieving excellent antifouling and biorecognition performance.

Wound healing is a dynamic, multi-phase process that includes haemostasis, tissue regeneration, cellular proliferation, and matrix modification.

A nanocoordinator (HTA) combining Aza and TiO₂ induces pyroptosis by restoring GSDME expression and generating ROS under ultrasound. This strategy enhances anti-tumor immunity and boosts sonodynamic therapy efficacy in breast cancer.

Here, we report metabolic glycan labeling of adipocytes and targeted modulation via click chemistry, offering a novel platform to manipulate adipocyte interactions with other cells.

Preparation of three-dimensional structured PLCL/ADM composite aerogels and their applications in treating full-thickness wounds in rats.

Vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) nanowires were modified with trans-tympanic peptides for enhanced trans-tympanic permeability. The as-modified nanowires retain haloperoxidase-like catalytic activities that can be harnessed to combat otitis media pathogens.

We disclosed a novel transdermal donepezil delivery system using a siloxane-based polymer for Alzheimer's disease treatment.

Controled release of immunodrugs from a nanocarriers enhances their efficiacy and improves pharmacokinetics and biodistributions.

An acoustically activated piezoelectric nanofiber scaffold enhances extracellular vesicle production in cells, resulting in a 7-fold increase in production rate from 3T3 cells and a 15-fold increase in HepG2 cells.

(A) Schematic of the synthesis of CaGA nanozymes. (B) Schematic diagram of the treatment of acute wounds.

Electrowriting of rheologically optimized silk fibroin solutions allows controlled fabrication of microfiber scaffolds. A salt treatment induces scaffold gelation, imparting low stiffness and high mechanical stability to guide renal cell growth.

Regenerative rehabilitation facilities age-dependent healing following severe muscle injuries; young mice respond well to treatment, whereas aged mice show minimal improvement, highlighting reduced responsiveness to these therapies in aged animals.

A silk fibroin-based film with light-induced non-compressible hemostasis and photo-controllable macrophage polarization modulation activity was developed to promote bacteria infected wound healing.

Halogen atom regulation of acceptor–donor–acceptor type conjugated molecules for efficient photothermal therapy.

Chlorogenic acid-conjugated PLGA-based nanomicelles reduce disease severity in an experimental rheumatoid arthritis model.

An experimentally informed device model capturing reduced factor transport resulting from the fibrous capsule (FC) and recovered using fluid flow.

ATRA and CpG are co-delivered by LbL nanoparticles, inducing the homing of activated T cells to the gut. Injecting NPs with OVA peptide effectively inhibits orthotopic colorectal tumor growth in mice without causing noticeable side effects.

Polyphenolic antibacterial bio-adhesives were synthesised via polyphenols and acid anhydrides without solvent or catalyst. Upon heating, these adhesives could induce strong adhesion onto various substrates, while demonstrating excellent antibacterial, antiinfection and biodegradability properties.

A tumor acidity and MMP dual-responsive plant toxin, gelonin (TPpG), was biosynthesized and it displayed excellent antitumor efficacy.

In this study, we investigated the suitability of pristine gelatin to enhance the biofunctionality of tyraminated PVA hydrogels, by promoting cell infiltration and host blood vessel recruitment in vitro and in vivo for tissue engineering applications.

Surface coating with dopamine conjugated hyaluronic acid (HA–DP) can interact with lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 (LYVE-1) to preserve the phenotypes and functionality of lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs).

Tissue nanotransfection (TNT)-driven extracellular vesicles mediate immunomodulation and hinder tumor progression in a mouse model of breast cancer.

Hyperbranched polylysine grafted polypropylene warp-knitted sling with mechanical compliance to prevent postoperative erosion.

Harnessing the potential of NO-releasing ampicillin conjugate as a catheter-lock solution against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This approach holds great potential in addressing the challenges posed by antibiotic resistance in clinical settings.

Machine Learning (ML) algorithms are ideal in silico tools to find patterns of cellular internalisation of pBAE polyplexes in various cell types, using chemical and biophysical material properties and cellular gene expression as model inputs.

Evaluation of the pharmacokinetics and activity of lipid nanoparticles formulated with polyethylene glycol-lipids of different anchor lengths after systemic administration to a mouse model of traumatic brain injury.

A self-healing antibacterial hydrogel was fabricated for accelerating infected wound healing. This hydrogel possesses biocompatible, self-healing, antibacterial and antibiotic-free properties, and thus is promising as a wound dressing.

An injectable short-fiber reinforced gelatin methacrylate/oxidized dextran (GM/ODex) hydrogel with a double-crosslinking network was developed for irregular wound treatment.

Dry, macroporous scaffolds efficiently transduce T cells, but the mechanism for this transduction has not been studied previously. We report that liquid volume and resultant differences in liquid absorption rates governs cell transduction efficiency.

In this paper we a report a pH-sensitive polycarbonate conjugated with the anticancer drug camptothecin that shows enhanced drug delivery towards cancer cells.

Fabrication process of CFOT and schematic illustration mechanism of CFOT for PTT/CDT synergistic therapy with GSH depletion and tumor targeting.

ROS-responsive polydopamine nanoparticles sustain release of heme–albumin, increasing HO-1 expression in retinal cells, demonstrating a potential therapeutic approach for treatment of inflammatory conditions such as age-related macular degeneration.

Dense coatings with polyethylene glycol (PEG) allow nanoparticles to diffuse within the LN extracellular spaces revealing pore sizes ranging from 500 nm–1.5 μm, contrary to previous literature that predicted pores to be 10–20 μm.

Polymer-nanoparticle hydrogels are assembled by guest–host interactions that also enable drug encapsulation. Surface erosion of celastrol-loaded nanoparticles from injectable hydrogels enables macrophage-targeted delivery to modulate cell phenotype.

BAPCs are PEG free nanoparticles with potential to deliver therapeutic mRNA in vivo. Association of mRNA with BAPCs surface enhanced localization in lung by avoiding liver and spleen. Therefore, potentiating their application in lung therapy.

A triazine based lipid was evaluated in mice for toxicity and transfection efficiency using optimized formulation parameters that result in improved transgene expression as compared to formulations containing commercially available cationic lipids.

Identify and validate inflammatory serum factors as drivers of sex-specific valvular interstitial cell phenotypes on hydrogels.

Self-assembling multidomain peptide hydrogels direct a nearly exclusive humoral adaptive immune response compared to alum, the most widely used adjuvant in vaccines.

Alternative activation (M2 phenotype) of macrophages and reduced phagocytosis is regulated synergistically by increased substrate stiffness and presence of profibrotic soluble cues.

We have demonstrated the ability of mRNA-carrying lipid nanoparticles to activate NLRP3 inflammasomes is highly dependent on lipid composition, affecting the endo/lysosomal rupture or calcium influx/mitochondrial ROS production by the nanoparticle.