Injectable Hydrogels Based on Hyperbranched Polymers for Biomedical Applications.

Injectable hydrogels (IHs) have garnered significant attention in biomedical applications due to their minimally invasive nature, adaptability, and high degree of customization. However, traditional design methods of IHs have limitations in addressing complex clinical needs, such as precise regulation of the gelation time and mechanical strength within a wide window. Hyperbranched polymers (HBPs), due to their unique highly branched structures and abundant functional sites, can be easily prepared and functionalized to enable decoupled modulation of mechanical properties of IHs and address the clinical challenges of IHs.

Growth Factors-Loaded Temperature-Sensitive Hydrogel as Biomimetic Mucus Attenuated Murine Ulcerative Colitis via Repairing the Mucosal Barriers.

The pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with the shedding of the gut mucus. Herein, inspired by the biological functions of mucus, growth factors-loaded in situ hydrogel (PHE-EK) was designed for UC treatment by integrating dihydrocaffeic acid-modified poloxamer as a thermosensitive material with hyaluronic acid (colitis-specific adhesive), epigallocatechin-3-gallate (antibacterial agent), and bioactive factors (KPV tripeptide and epidermal growth factor). PHE-EK presented good thermosensitive properties, as a flowable liquid at room temperature and gelled within 10 s when exposed to body temperature.

From the updated landscape of the emerging biologics for IBDs treatment to the new delivery systems.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) treatments have shifted from small-molecular therapeutics to the oncoming biologics. The first-line biologics against the moderate-to-severe IBDs are mainly involved in antibodies against integrins, cytokines and cell adhesion molecules. Besides, other biologics including growth factors, antioxidative enzyme, anti-inflammatory peptides, nucleic acids, stem cells and probiotics have also been explored at preclinical or clinical studies.

In situ polyphenol-adhesive hydrogel enhanced the noncarcinogenic repairing of KGF on the gut epithelial barrier on TNBS-induced colitis rats.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic recurrent disease affecting the gastrointestinal tract especially colorectum. Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) plays the vital roles in maintaining the colonic mucosal barrier. The poor stability and off-target of KGF were two hindering factors for its clinical application.

Skin-adaptive film dressing with smart-release of growth factors accelerated diabetic wound healing.

The general treatment of diabetic wound was use of wound dressings to absorb excess exudate. However, traditional wound dressings neither mimic the skin-like properties nor easily be withdrawn from the wound. Herein, the skin-adaptive three-layered films (AGB) dressing has been designed by alternatively depositing phenylboronic acid-grafted γ-PGA (PBA-PGA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).

A KPV-binding double-network hydrogel restores gut mucosal barrier in an inflamed colon.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) usually occurs in the superficial mucosa of the colorectum. Here, a double-network hydrogel (PMSP) was constructed from maleimided γ-polyglutamic acid and thiolated γ-polyglutamic acid through crosslinking of thiol-maleimide and self-oxidized thiols. PMSP with a negative charge specifically adhered to the inflamed mucosa with positively charged proteins rather than to the healthy mucosa.

mucoadhesive hydrogel capturing tripeptide KPV: the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and repairing effect on chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis.

The self-healing of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis is difficult in practice because of both local bacterial infection and severe inflammation. Herein, mucoadhesive hydrogels (PPP_E) were successfully prepared by using temperature-sensitive PLGA-PEG-PLGA (PPP) as a matrix and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) with inherent antibacterial activity as an adhesion enhancer. A series of PPP_E precursor solutions with various EGCG concentrations (1%, 2% and 5%) were prepared by fixing the PPP concentration at 25%.

Self-Cross-Linked Hydrogel of Cysteamine-Grafted γ-Polyglutamic Acid Stabilized Tripeptide KPV for Alleviating TNBS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Rats.

KPV (Lys-Pro-Val), which is a tripeptide derived from α-MSH (α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone), has an anti-inflammatory effect on colitis. However, KPV solution is very unstable when rectally administered, compromising its therapeutic efficacy. Herein, cysteamine-grafted γ-polyglutamic acid (SH-PGA) was synthesized by conjugating cysteamine with the carboxyl groups of γ-PGA.