Bioinspired polysaccharide-based nanocomposite membranes with robust wet mechanical properties for guided bone regeneration

Jian-Hong Xiao; Zhen-Bang Zhang; JiaHao Li; Si-Ming Chen; Huai-Ling Gao; YinXiu Liao; Lu Chen; ZiShuo Wang; YiFan Lu; YuanZhen Hou; HengAn Wu; DuoHong Zou; Shu-Hong Yu

doi:10.1093/nsr/nwad333

Bioinspired polysaccharide-based nanocomposite membranes with robust wet mechanical properties for guided bone regeneration

Natl Sci Rev. 2024 Jan 2;11(3):nwad333. doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwad333. eCollection 2024 Mar.

Authors

Jian-Hong Xiao^{1

2}, Zhen-Bang Zhang¹, JiaHao Li³, Si-Ming Chen¹, Huai-Ling Gao^{1

3}, YinXiu Liao⁴, Lu Chen⁴, ZiShuo Wang⁴, YiFan Lu², YuanZhen Hou³, HengAn Wu³, DuoHong Zou^{2

4}, Shu-Hong Yu^{1

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Institute of Biomimetic Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
² Department of Dental Implant Center, Stomatologic Hospital and College, Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
³ CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Modern Mechanics, CAS Center for Excellence in Complex System Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China.
⁴ Department of Oral Surgery, College of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200001, China.
⁵ Institute of Innovative Materials (I2M), Department of Chemistry, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.

Abstract

Polysaccharide-based membranes with excellent mechanical properties are highly desired. However, severe mechanical deterioration under wet conditions limits their biomedical applications. Here, inspired by the structural heterogeneity of strong yet hydrated biological materials, we propose a strategy based on heterogeneous crosslink-and-hydration (HCH) of a molecule/nano dual-scale network to fabricate polysaccharide-based nanocomposites with robust wet mechanical properties. The heterogeneity lies in that the crosslink-and-hydration occurs in the molecule-network while the stress-bearing nanofiber-network remains unaffected. As one demonstration, a membrane assembled by bacterial cellulose nanofiber-network and Ca²⁺-crosslinked and hydrated sodium alginate molecule-network is designed. Studies show that the crosslinked-and-hydrated molecule-network restricts water invasion and boosts stress transfer of the nanofiber-network by serving as interfibrous bridge. Overall, the molecule-network makes the membrane hydrated and flexible; the nanofiber-network as stress-bearing component provides strength and toughness. The HCH dual-scale network featuring a cooperative effect stimulates the design of advanced biomaterials applied under wet conditions such as guided bone regeneration membranes.

Keywords: bioinspiration; dual-scale network; guided bone regeneration; heterogeneous crosslink-and-hydration; nanocomposite membrane; wet mechanical properties.