Monolithic-to-focal evolving biointerfaces in tissue regeneration and bioelectronics

Monolithic-to-focal evolving biointerfaces in tissue regeneration and bioelectronics

January 2024 | Jiuyun Shi, Yiliang Lin, Pengji Li, Phil Mickel, Changxu Sun, Kavita Parekh, Jingcheng Ma, Saehyun Kim, Brennan Ashwood, Lingyuan Meng, Yanqi Luo, Si Chen, Hsiu-Ming Tsai, Candace M. Cham, Jing Zhang, Zhe Cheng, Jabr A. Abu-Halimah, Jiwang Chen, Philip Griffin, Eugene B. Chang, Petr Král, Jiping Yue & Bozhi Tian
This study introduces a dynamic hydrogel system that can release cellular-scale granules in physiological environments for regenerative medicine and bioelectronics. The system enables the transition from monolithic to focal biointerfaces, expanding the forms, delivery methods, and application domains of traditional biointerfaces. The hydrogel composites use gelatin and chitosan as the hydrogel matrix to respond to biological environments while also facilitating macroscopic material shaping and manipulation. The hydrogel composites consist of cellular-scale releasable granules that can form focal bio-adhesions in vivo and ex vivo and degrade at the end for therapeutic benefit. The release–adhesion–degradation dynamics of the granule-releasing hydrogels are achieved through (1) modulation of viscoelasticity or enzymatic digestion of the gelatin and chitosan matrix for granular release, (2) drug-inspired surface modification of starch/chitosan-based granules for establishing focal adhesion, and (3) the utilization of naturally occurring and biodegradable biopolymers and biomolecules. The granule-releasing hydrogels can also yield bandage-like configurations, bioelectronics–hydrogel composites, and hydrogel or aerogel microneedle constructs. The initial macroscale forms of the composites protect fragile electronic components and facilitate flexible bioelectronic device deployment. The monolithic matrix permits a tunable viscoelastic environment for slow and responsive granular release. Upon dispersion, the microscale granules with surface modifications would instantiate dispersed biointerfaces. These dispersed interfaces could potentially facilitate enhanced transport of small molecules such as water, electrolytes and amino acids. The subsequent biodegradation of the natural biopolymer will also promote regenerative tissue recovery. With this evolving mechanism, the granule-releasing hydrogel can effectively manage symptoms of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, accelerate skin wound healing, and facilitate cardiac tissue regeneration and mapping of cardiac activity. This evolving system integrates the benefits and application domains of the current monolithic and focal biointerfacing materials and devices. The study demonstrates that the granule-releasing hydrogels effectively treat ulcerative colitis, heal skin wounds and reduce myocardial infarctions. Furthermore, the granule-releasing hydrogels incorporated into flexible cardiac electrophysiology mapping devices show improved device manipulation and bio-adhesion. The interfaces between biomaterials and dynamic biological tissues are essential to disease diagnosis and treatment. Current strategies to promote tight biointerfaces rely mainly on thin, flexible membranes with low bending stiffness, such as those developed for flexible bioelectronics, and the addition of biocompatible or biodegradable adhesives. Recent research has shown that viscoelastic polymers or hydrogels provide conformal biointerfaces with improved signal transmission and biocompatibility. These monolithic or interconnected constructs, such as mesh devices or hydrogel membranes, can easilyThis study introduces a dynamic hydrogel system that can release cellular-scale granules in physiological environments for regenerative medicine and bioelectronics. The system enables the transition from monolithic to focal biointerfaces, expanding the forms, delivery methods, and application domains of traditional biointerfaces. The hydrogel composites use gelatin and chitosan as the hydrogel matrix to respond to biological environments while also facilitating macroscopic material shaping and manipulation. The hydrogel composites consist of cellular-scale releasable granules that can form focal bio-adhesions in vivo and ex vivo and degrade at the end for therapeutic benefit. The release–adhesion–degradation dynamics of the granule-releasing hydrogels are achieved through (1) modulation of viscoelasticity or enzymatic digestion of the gelatin and chitosan matrix for granular release, (2) drug-inspired surface modification of starch/chitosan-based granules for establishing focal adhesion, and (3) the utilization of naturally occurring and biodegradable biopolymers and biomolecules. The granule-releasing hydrogels can also yield bandage-like configurations, bioelectronics–hydrogel composites, and hydrogel or aerogel microneedle constructs. The initial macroscale forms of the composites protect fragile electronic components and facilitate flexible bioelectronic device deployment. The monolithic matrix permits a tunable viscoelastic environment for slow and responsive granular release. Upon dispersion, the microscale granules with surface modifications would instantiate dispersed biointerfaces. These dispersed interfaces could potentially facilitate enhanced transport of small molecules such as water, electrolytes and amino acids. The subsequent biodegradation of the natural biopolymer will also promote regenerative tissue recovery. With this evolving mechanism, the granule-releasing hydrogel can effectively manage symptoms of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, accelerate skin wound healing, and facilitate cardiac tissue regeneration and mapping of cardiac activity. This evolving system integrates the benefits and application domains of the current monolithic and focal biointerfacing materials and devices. The study demonstrates that the granule-releasing hydrogels effectively treat ulcerative colitis, heal skin wounds and reduce myocardial infarctions. Furthermore, the granule-releasing hydrogels incorporated into flexible cardiac electrophysiology mapping devices show improved device manipulation and bio-adhesion. The interfaces between biomaterials and dynamic biological tissues are essential to disease diagnosis and treatment. Current strategies to promote tight biointerfaces rely mainly on thin, flexible membranes with low bending stiffness, such as those developed for flexible bioelectronics, and the addition of biocompatible or biodegradable adhesives. Recent research has shown that viscoelastic polymers or hydrogels provide conformal biointerfaces with improved signal transmission and biocompatibility. These monolithic or interconnected constructs, such as mesh devices or hydrogel membranes, can easily
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