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Co-Delivery of Ca-MOF and Mg-MOF Using Nanoengineered Hydrogels to Promote In Situ Mineralization and Bone Defect
Cho-E Choi1, Chao Liang2, Yasmeen Shamiya3
1Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B9, Canada.
Advanced Healthcare Materials
|September 1, 2025
Summary
New mineral-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in hydrogels accelerate bone healing by enhancing cell growth and mineral deposition. This bioactive hydrogel promotes new bone formation for severe bone defects without drugs.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Severe bone defects pose significant challenges due to limited self-regeneration.
- Current treatments like allografts and synthetic substitutes have limitations including poor osseointegration and biocompatibility.
- Drug-eluting materials can cause adverse side effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate nanoengineered mineral-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) incorporated into hydrogels for enhanced bone healing.
- To investigate the osteogenic potential of calcium and magnesium MOF nanoparticles (Ca/Mg-MOF) within hydrogel scaffolds.
- To assess the efficacy of these bioactive hydrogels in promoting new bone formation in a critical-size bone defect model.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of mineral-based MOF nanoparticles (Ca-MOF and Mg-MOF).
- Incorporation of Ca/Mg-MOF nanoparticles into polymeric hydrogels, creating sprayable, injectable, and coating formulations.
- In vitro evaluation of osteogenic differentiation and mineral deposition in preosteoblast cells.
- In vivo assessment using a rat model with critical-size bone defects, employing micro-computed tomography and histological analysis.
Main Results:
- Nanoengineered hydrogels with Ca/Mg-MOF significantly enhanced osteogenic differentiation and mineral deposition compared to controls.
- Sustained release of Ca²⁺ (62.89% ± 3.05) and Mg²⁺ (18.60% ± 0.65) by day 8 was observed.
- In vivo studies demonstrated significant improvement in new bone formation in critical-size defects without supplemental drugs.
Conclusions:
- Nanoengineered mineral-based hydrogels show significant potential for promoting osteogenesis and accelerating bone healing.
- The Ca/Mg-MOF hydrogel system offers a promising drug-free therapeutic strategy for severe bone defects.
- These findings highlight the clinical significance of bioactive hydrogels in bone regeneration.
