Tough and self-adhesive zwitterionic hydrogels with mechano-responsive release of bFGF for tympanic membrane repair

Shengjia Chen; Xiangshu Guo; Yanyu Yang; Junjie Deng; Ting Xu; Zhechen Yuan; Hao Xue; Longxing Niu; Rong Wang; Yi Shen

Materials Today Bio (Oct 2024)

Tough and self-adhesive zwitterionic hydrogels with mechano-responsive release of bFGF for tympanic membrane repair

Shengjia Chen,
Xiangshu Guo,
Yanyu Yang,
Junjie Deng,
Ting Xu,
Zhechen Yuan,
Hao Xue,
Longxing Niu,
Rong Wang,
Yi Shen

Affiliations

Shengjia Chen: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, Zhejiang, PR China; Laboratory of Advanced Theranostic Materials and Technology, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, PR China; Zhejiang International Scientific and Technological Cooperative Base of Biomedical Materials and Technology, Ningbo Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo, 315300, PR China; School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, PR China
Xiangshu Guo: Laboratory of Advanced Theranostic Materials and Technology, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, PR China; Zhejiang International Scientific and Technological Cooperative Base of Biomedical Materials and Technology, Ningbo Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo, 315300, PR China
Yanyu Yang: Laboratory of Advanced Theranostic Materials and Technology, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, PR China; Zhejiang International Scientific and Technological Cooperative Base of Biomedical Materials and Technology, Ningbo Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo, 315300, PR China
Junjie Deng: Laboratory of Advanced Theranostic Materials and Technology, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, PR China; Zhejiang International Scientific and Technological Cooperative Base of Biomedical Materials and Technology, Ningbo Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo, 315300, PR China
Ting Xu: Laboratory of Advanced Theranostic Materials and Technology, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, PR China; Zhejiang International Scientific and Technological Cooperative Base of Biomedical Materials and Technology, Ningbo Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo, 315300, PR China
Zhechen Yuan: School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, PR China
Hao Xue: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, Zhejiang, PR China
Longxing Niu: Laboratory of Advanced Theranostic Materials and Technology, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, PR China; Zhejiang International Scientific and Technological Cooperative Base of Biomedical Materials and Technology, Ningbo Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo, 315300, PR China; Corresponding author.
Rong Wang: Laboratory of Advanced Theranostic Materials and Technology, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, PR China; Zhejiang International Scientific and Technological Cooperative Base of Biomedical Materials and Technology, Ningbo Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo, 315300, PR China; Corresponding author.
Yi Shen: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, Zhejiang, PR China; School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, PR China; Corresponding author. Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, Zhejiang, PR China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 28
p. 101212

Abstract

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The tympanic membrane (TM) is constantly in a state of vibrating. However, there is currently a lack of drug-delivery scaffolds suitable for the dynamic environment of TM perforation. In this study, a mechano-responsive tough hydrogel was developed. It consists of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-loaded sodium alginate (SA) microspheres, polysulfobetaine methacrylate (polySBMA), and gelatin methacrylate (GelMA). This hydrogel was designed to serve as a TM scaffold to promote perforation healing under dynamic conditions. bFGF was encapsulated in SA microspheres, which were then incorporated into polySBMA-GelMA hydrogels through photo-initiated free radical polymerization. The mechanical properties, tissue adhesiveness, swelling properties, and degradation of the hydrogels were evaluated before and after microsphere incorporation. It was observed that incorporating bFGF-loaded SA microspheres did not significantly impact the adhesion and degradation mechanisms of the hydrogel. The compressive strength and tensile strength of the microsphere-incorporated hydrogel were up to 6.6 MPa and 64.1 kPa, respectively, suitable for a TM scaffold. The release behavior of bFGF from the hydrogel could be controlled by vibration stimulation without significantly affecting the hydrogel's mechanical properties, indicating a mechano-responsive nature of the hydrogel. The in vitro cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that the hydrogels showed no cytotoxic effects. Moreover, cell culture assays demonstrated that vibration stimulation could enhance the release of bFGF, significantly promoting cell proliferation and migration. The results demonstrate the significant potential of the mechano-responsive hydrogel as a scaffold for repairing TM perforations.

Published in Materials Today Bio

ISSN: 2590-0064 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General); Science: Biology (General)
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/materials-today-bio

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