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Updated: Oct 2, 2025
Fabrication of Size-Controlled and Emulsion-Free Chitosan-Genipin Microgels for Tissue Engineering Applications
Published on: April 13, 2022
A dual functional chondro-inductive chitosan thermogel with high shear modulus and sustained drug release for
Dorsa Dehghan-Baniani1, Babak Mehrjou2, Dong Wang3
1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China; Polymeric Materials Research Group, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, P.O. Box 11155-9466, Iran.
Abstract:
We report a chitosan-based nanocomposite thermogel with superior shear modulus resembling that of cartilage and dual pro-chondrogenic and anti-inflammatory functions. Two therapeutic agents, kartogenin (KGN) and diclofenac sodium (DS), are employed to promote chondrogenesis of stem cells and suppress inflammation, respectively. To extend the release time in a controlled manner, KGN is encapsulated in the uniform-sized starch microspheres and DS is loaded into the halloysite nanotubes. Both drug carriers are doped into the maleimide-modified chitosan hydrogel to produce a shear modulus of 167 ± 5 kPa that is comparable to that of articular cartilage (50-250 kPa). Owing to the hydrogel injectability and relatively suitable gelation time (5 ± 0.5 min) at 37 °C, this system potentially constitutes a manageable platform for clinical practice. Moreover, sustained linear drug release for over a month boosts chondro-differentiation of stem cells to eliminate the necessity for multiple administrations. Considering virtues such as thermogel strength and ability to co-deliver anti-inflammatory and chondro-inductive biomolecules continuously, the materials and strategy have promising potential in functional cartilage tissue engineering.
