An injectable and self-healing cellulose nanofiber-reinforced alginate hydrogel for bone repair

Shuyuan Cui; Sufeng Zhang; Sergiu Coseri

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.120243

An injectable and self-healing cellulose nanofiber-reinforced alginate hydrogel for bone repair

Carbohydr Polym. 2023 Jan 15:300:120243. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.120243. Epub 2022 Oct 20.

Authors

Shuyuan Cui¹, Sufeng Zhang², Sergiu Coseri³

Affiliations

¹ Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Papermaking Technology and Specialty Paper Development, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Key Laboratory of Paper Based Functional Materials of China National Light Industry, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China.
² Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Papermaking Technology and Specialty Paper Development, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Key Laboratory of Paper Based Functional Materials of China National Light Industry, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China. Electronic address: zhangsufeng@sust.edu.cn.
³ "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Romanian Academy, 41 A Gr. Ghica Voda Alley, Iasi 700487, Romania.

PMID: 36372478
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.120243

Abstract

Biomedical materials are in high demand for transplantation in cases of diseased or damaged bone tissue. Hydrogels are potential candidates for bone defect repair; however, traditional hydrogels lack the necessary strength and multiple functions. Herein, we effectively synthesized a cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-reinforced oxidized alginate (OSA)/gelatin (Gel) semi-interpenetrating network hydrogel through a facile one-step approach without a cross-linker by using the synergistic effects of dynamic imine bonds and hydrogen bonds. The OSA/Gel/CNF sample showed a notable compressive modulus (up to 361.3 KPa). The gelation time (~150 s) ensured excellent injectability. Self-healing exhibited a high efficiency of up to 92 %, which would enable minimally invasive, dynamic adjustments and personalized therapies. Furthermore, the OSA/Gel/CNF hydrogel showed excellent biomineralization (Ca/P ratio ~ 1.69) and enhanced preosteoblast cell (MC3T3-E1) viability (over 96 %), proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation. Thus, this multifunctional hydrogel has promising potential for using in the bone tissue repairs.

Keywords: Bone repair; Cellulose nanofiber; Injectable; Self-healing; Semi-interpenetrating network hydrogels.

MeSH terms

Alginates / chemistry
Cellulose / pharmacology
Gelatin / chemistry
Humans
Hydrogels / chemistry
Hydrogels / pharmacology
Nanofibers*
Osteogenesis*

Substances

Alginates
Cellulose
Gelatin
Hydrogels