Fabrication of Naturally Derived Double-Network Hydrogels With a Sustained Aspirin Release System for Facilitating Bone Regeneration

Wenfeng Zhu; Rui Chen; Weiheng Wang; Yi Liu; Changgui Shi; Songjun Tang; Guoke Tang

doi:10.3389/fchem.2022.874985

Fabrication of Naturally Derived Double-Network Hydrogels With a Sustained Aspirin Release System for Facilitating Bone Regeneration

Front Chem. 2022 Mar 28:10:874985. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2022.874985. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Wenfeng Zhu¹, Rui Chen², Weiheng Wang², Yi Liu², Changgui Shi², Songjun Tang¹, Guoke Tang³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Post and Telecommunication Hospital, Shanghai, China.
² Department of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
³ Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

Continuous efforts on pursuit of effective drug delivery systems for engineering hydrogel scaffolds is considered a promising strategy for the bone-related diseases. Here, we developed a kind of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin, ASA)-based double-network (DN) hydrogel containing the positively charged natural chitosan (CS) and methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) polymers. Combination of physical chain-entanglement, electrostatic interactions, and a chemically cross-linked methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) network led to the formation of a DN hydrogel, which had a suitable porous structure and favorable mechanical properties. After in situ encapsulation of aspirin agents, the resulting hydrogels were investigated as culturing matrices for adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) to evaluate their excellent biocompatibility and biological capacities on modulation of cell proliferation and differentiation. We further found that the long-term sustained ASA in the DN hydrogels could contribute to the anti-inflammation and osteoinductive properties, demonstrating a new strategy for bone tissue regeneration.

Keywords: DN hydrogel; GelMA; aspirin; bone regeneration; drug delivery.