Injectable and biodegradable piezoelectric hydrogel for osteoarthritis treatment

Tra Vinikoor; Godwin K. Dzidotor; Thinh T. Le; Yang Liu; Ho-Man Kan; Srimanta Barui; Meysam T. Chorsi; Eli J. Curry; Emily Reinhardt; Hanzhang Wang; Parbeen Singh; Marc A. Merriman; Ethan D’Orio; Jinyoung Park; Shuyang Xiao; James H. Chapman; Feng Lin; Cao-Sang Truong; Somasundaram Prasadh; Lisa Chuba; Shaelyn Killoh; Seok-Woo Lee; Qian Wu; Ramaswamy M. Chidambaram; Kevin W. H. Lo; Cato T. Laurencin; Thanh D. Nguyen

doi:10.1038/s41467-023-41594-y

Nature Communications (Oct 2023)

Injectable and biodegradable piezoelectric hydrogel for osteoarthritis treatment

Tra Vinikoor,
Godwin K. Dzidotor,
Thinh T. Le,
Yang Liu,
Ho-Man Kan,
Srimanta Barui,
Meysam T. Chorsi,
Eli J. Curry,
Emily Reinhardt,
Hanzhang Wang,
Parbeen Singh,
Marc A. Merriman,
Ethan D’Orio,
Jinyoung Park,
Shuyang Xiao,
James H. Chapman,
Feng Lin,
Cao-Sang Truong,
Somasundaram Prasadh,
Lisa Chuba,
Shaelyn Killoh,
Seok-Woo Lee,
Qian Wu,
Ramaswamy M. Chidambaram,
Kevin W. H. Lo,
Cato T. Laurencin,
Thanh D. Nguyen

Affiliations

Tra Vinikoor: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut
Godwin K. Dzidotor: The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, University of Connecticut Health
Thinh T. Le: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut
Yang Liu: Center of Digital Dentistry/Department of Prosthodontics/Central Laboratory, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology & NHC Research Center of Engineering and Technology for Computerized Dentistry & NMPA Key Laboratory for Dental Materials
Ho-Man Kan: The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, University of Connecticut Health
Srimanta Barui: The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, University of Connecticut Health
Meysam T. Chorsi: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut
Eli J. Curry: Eli Lilly and Company
Emily Reinhardt: Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut
Hanzhang Wang: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center
Parbeen Singh: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut
Marc A. Merriman: The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, University of Connecticut Health
Ethan D’Orio: Department of Advanced Manufacturing for Energy Systems Engineering, University of Connecticut
Jinyoung Park: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut
Shuyang Xiao: Department of Materials Science and Engineering & Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut
James H. Chapman: The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, University of Connecticut Health
Feng Lin: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut
Cao-Sang Truong: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut
Somasundaram Prasadh: Center for Clean Energy Engineering, University of Connecticut
Lisa Chuba: Center for Comparative Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center
Shaelyn Killoh: Center for Comparative Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center
Seok-Woo Lee: Department of Materials Science and Engineering & Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut
Qian Wu: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center
Ramaswamy M. Chidambaram: Center for Comparative Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center
Kevin W. H. Lo: The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, University of Connecticut Health
Cato T. Laurencin: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut
Thanh D. Nguyen: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41594-y
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 1 – 18

Abstract

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Abstract Osteoarthritis affects millions of people worldwide but current treatments using analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs only alleviate symptoms of this disease. Here, we present an injectable, biodegradable piezoelectric hydrogel, made of short electrospun poly-L-lactic acid nanofibers embedded inside a collagen matrix, which can be injected into the joints and self-produce localized electrical cues under ultrasound activation to drive cartilage healing. In vitro, data shows that the piezoelectric hydrogel with ultrasound can enhance cell migration and induce stem cells to secrete TGF-β1, which promotes chondrogenesis. In vivo, the rabbits with osteochondral critical-size defects receiving the ultrasound-activated piezoelectric hydrogel show increased subchondral bone formation, improved hyaline-cartilage structure, and good mechanical properties, close to healthy native cartilage. This piezoelectric hydrogel is not only useful for cartilage healing but also potentially applicable to other tissue regeneration, offering a significant impact on the field of regenerative tissue engineering.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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