Mussel-inspired adhesive macromolecule modified zinc oxide nanoparticles incorporated into polyethylene glycol hydrogels for enhancing infected wound healing.

Infected wounds remain a major clinical challenge due to bacterial invasion, which disrupts the natural healing cascade through excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, severe vascular damage, and persistent inflammation. Inspired by the catechol-rich adhesive domains of mussel foot proteins, we developed an extracellular matrix (ECM)-mimetic polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel incorporating polydopamine (PDA)-functionalized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) for infected wound therapy. The amino acid-functionalized PEG hydrogel reproduces ECM-like properties to facilitate cell migration and efficient exudate management; however, its lack of intrinsic antimicrobial activity limits therapeutic efficacy.

Promotion of chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells by copper: Implications for new cartilage repair biomaterials.

Copper (Cu) has drawn considerable attention in the design of biomaterials due to its multifunction, such as antibacterial property, osteogenic and angiogenic ability. However, the effect of Cu on chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and its potential for cartilage repair biomaterials has been rarely studied. Here, we report that Cu can significantly enhance chondrogensis of MSCs.