Fabrication of Injectable Kartogenin-Conjugated Composite Hydrogel with a Sustained Drug Release for Cartilage Repair

Abstract

Cartilage tissue engineering has attracted great attention in defect repair and regeneration. The utilization of bioactive scaffolds to effectively regulate the phenotype and proliferation of chondrocytes has become an elemental means for cartilage tissue regeneration. On account of the simultaneous requirement of mechanical and biological performances for tissue-engineered scaffolds, in this work we prepared a naturally derived hydrogel composed of a bioactive kartogenin (KGN)-linked chitosan (CS-KGN) and an aldehyde-modified oxidized alginate (OSA) via the highly efficient Schiff base reaction and multifarious physical interactions in mild conditions. On the basis of the rigid backbones and excellent biocompatibility of these two natural polysaccharides, the composite hydrogel demonstrated favorable morphology, easy injectability, good mechanical strength and tissue adhesiveness, low swelling ratio, long-term sustainable KGN release, and facilitated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell activity, which could simultaneously provide the mechanical and biological supports to promote chondrogenic differentiation and repair the articular cartilage defects. Therefore, we believe this work can offer a designable consideration and potential alternative candidate for cartilage and other soft tissue implants.

Biobran-loaded core/shell nanofibrous scaffold: a promising wound dressing candidate

“…This suggests that the physical interactions between the PVA and Biobran in the core effectively slowed down the Biobran release from the nanofibrous scaffolds. 98–100 Notably, despite the higher hydrophilicity of B30 than B10 and B20, its Biobran release rate is comparatively slower. This can be attributed to its high crystallinity, small fiber diameter, and pore size, which also contributed to its enhanced stability during degradation.…”

Chondroitin Sulfate Improves Mechanical Properties of Gelatin Hydrogel for Cartilage Regeneration in Rats

“…found that due to the residual aldehyde groups within the oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) backbone, the composite CS‐KGN/OSA hydrogel also demonstrated attractive adhesive strengths in tissue applications owing to the generation of a number of Schiff base bonds between the aldehyde groups of the CS‐KGN/OSA hydrogel and the amine groups of the tissue. [ 58 ] In addition, Zhou et al. quantitatively evaluated the adhesive strength between the hydrogels and the tissue by SEM and burst adhesion testing, as shown in the following picture.…”

Injectable Hydrogel of Chitosan-Octyl Itaconate Conjugate Modulates Inflammatory Response

“…Chitosan conjugates show enhanced water solubility compared with unmodified CS and therefore are desirable for in vivo use. Chitosan conjugating with small-molecule drugs as PDCs for treating chronic inflammatory diseases has been extensively reported. − …”