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Updated: Dec 25, 2025
Author Spotlight: Enhancing Bone Regeneration with Vascularized Artificial Cartilage Integration
Published on: July 14, 2023
Injectable hydrogel systems with multiple biophysical and biochemical cues for bone regeneration
Weinan Cheng1, Zhaozhao Ding2, Xin Zheng3
1Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, People's Republic of China. Lvqiang78@suda.edu.cn Zhouxz@suda.edu.cn and Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214041, People's Republic of China. Luguozhong@hotmail.com and Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, People's Republic of China.
This study developed injectable hydrogels for bone regeneration, combining silk nanofibers and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. These hydrogels deliver angiogenic and osteogenic factors, accelerating vascularized bone repair in defects.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Bone regeneration requires coordinated angiogenesis and osteogenesis.
- Simultaneously delivering multiple cues for bone regeneration is challenging.
- Injectable biomimetic hydrogels offer a promising platform for bone tissue engineering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop injectable silk nanofiber/hydroxyapatite nanoparticle hydrogels.
- To incorporate deferoxamine (DFO) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) for enhanced angiogenesis and osteogenesis.
- To investigate the tunable delivery of DFO and BMP-2 for regulating bone regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of injectable hydrogels using silk nanofibers (SNF) and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HA).
- Loading of deferoxamine (DFO) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) onto SNF and HA.
- In vivo evaluation of hydrogel performance in cranial defect models.
- Assessment of vascularization and bone formation using histological and imaging techniques.
Main Results:
- The developed hydrogels successfully delivered DFO and BMP-2, promoting both angiogenesis and osteogenesis.
- Independent tuning of DFO and BMP-2 delivery regulated the capacity for vascularization and bone regeneration.
- Significant acceleration of vascularized bone regeneration was observed in cranial defects.
- Regenerated bone exhibited composition and structure similar to natural bone.
Conclusions:
- Injectable SNF/HA hydrogels with tunable DFO and BMP-2 delivery are effective for bone regeneration.
- The combined biophysical and biochemical cues promote vascularized bone healing.
- These hydrogels show potential for clinical applications in bone tissue engineering.
