Bisphosphonate-based nanocomposite hydrogels for biomedical applications

Weihao Yuan; Zhuo Li; Xian Xie; Zhi-Yong Zhang; Liming Bian

doi:10.1016/j.bioactmat.2020.06.002

Bisphosphonate-based nanocomposite hydrogels for biomedical applications

Bioact Mater. 2020 Jun 22;5(4):819-831. doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2020.06.002. eCollection 2020 Dec.

Authors

Weihao Yuan¹, Zhuo Li¹, Xian Xie¹, Zhi-Yong Zhang², Liming Bian^{1

3

2

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, 999077, PR China.
² Translational Research Centre of Regenerative Medicine and 3D Printing of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, No.63 Duobao Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, 510150, PR China.
³ Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 518172, PR China.
⁴ China Orthopedic Regenerative Medicine Group (CORMed), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China.

Abstract

Nanocomposite hydrogels consist of polymeric network embedded with functional nanoparticles or nanostructures, which not only contribute to the enhanced mechanical properties but also exhibit the bioactivities for regulating cell behavior. Bisphosphonates (BPs) are capable of coordinating with various metal ions and modulating bone homeostasis. Thanks to the inherent dynamic properties of metal-ligand coordination bonds, BP-based nanocomposite hydrogels possess tunable mechanical properties, highly dynamic structures, and the capability to mediate controlled release of encapsulated therapeutic agents, thereby making them highly versatile for various biomedical applications. This review presents the comprehensive overview of recent developments in BP-based nanocomposite hydrogels with an emphasis on the properties of embedded nanoparticles (NPs) and interactions between hydrogel network and NPs. Furthermore, various challenges in the biomedical applications of these hydrogels are discussed to provide an outlook of potential clinical translation.

Keywords: Bisphosphonates; Metal–ligand coordination; Nanocomposite hydrogels.

Publication types

Review