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Updated: Aug 2, 2025
Constructing a Collagen Hydrogel for the Delivery of Stem Cell-loaded Chitosan Microspheres
Published on: June 1, 2012
Copper-containing chitosan-based hydrogels enabled 3D-printed scaffolds to accelerate bone repair and eliminate
Jinwei Zhang1, Xiangling Ye2, Wenhua Li3
1Department of Joint and Orthopedics, Orthopedic Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, China; Guangdong Key Lab of Orthopedic Technology and Implant Materials, General Hospital of Southern Theater Command of PLA, Guangzhou 510010, China.
Abstract:
Bone defect combined with drug-resistant bacteria-related infection is a thorny challenge in clinic. Herein, 3D-printed polyhydroxyalkanoates/β-tricalcium phosphate (PHA/β-TCP, PT) scaffolds were prepared by fused deposition modeling. Then copper-containing carboxymethyl chitosan/alginate (CA/Cu) hydrogels were integrated with the scaffolds via a facile and low-cost chemical crosslinking method. The resultant PT/CA/Cu scaffolds could promote not only proliferation but also osteogenic differentiation of preosteoblasts in vitro. Moreover, PT/CA/Cu scaffolds exhibited a strong antibacterial activity towards a broad-spectrum of bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) through inducing the intercellular generation of reactive oxygen species. In vivo experiments further demonstrated that PT/CA/Cu scaffolds significantly accelerated bone repair of cranial defects and efficiently eliminated MRSA-related infection, showing potential for application in infected bone defect therapy.
