Coupling PEG-LZM polymer networks with polyphenols yields suturable biohydrogels for tissue patching

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Hydrogels often exhibit poor mechanical properties, limiting their surgical applications.
• Improving hydrogel toughness is crucial for expanding their clinical use.
• Natural polyphenols possess structural features for potential hydrogel reinforcement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the mechanical properties of PEG-lysozyme (LZM) hydrogels using natural polyphenols.
• To investigate the impact of polyphenols on hydrogel toughness, elasticity, and water content.
• To evaluate the in vivo performance of polyphenol-modified hydrogels for tissue repair.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing natural polyphenols as noncovalent crosslinkers in PEG-LZM hydrogels.
• Characterizing the mechanical properties (toughness, elasticity) of the modified hydrogels.
• Assessing hydrogel water content, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities.
• Conducting in vivo studies on rabbit myocardial defects using PEG-LZM-tannic acid hydrogels.

Main Results:

• PEG-LZM-polyphenol hydrogels exhibited significantly improved super toughness and elasticity compared to pristine PEG-LZM.
• Mechanical properties were tunable by adjusting polyphenol concentration.
• The modified hydrogels showed higher water content, enhanced antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
• Successful in vivo application in patching rabbit myocardial defects, improving healing and heart function recovery.

Conclusions:

• Natural polyphenols effectively reinforce PEG-LZM hydrogels, creating mechanically robust materials for surgical use.
• The enhanced hydrogels demonstrate promising biocompatibility and therapeutic potential for tissue regeneration.
• Polyphenol-modified hydrogels represent a significant advancement for clinical applications requiring durable and functional biomaterials.