Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 24, 2026
Printing Thermoresponsive Reverse Molds for the Creation of Patterned Two-component Hydrogels for 3D Cell Culture
Published on: July 10, 2013
DNA-Based Hydrogels for Musculoskeletal Reconstruction: Harnessing Dynamic Programmability and Multimodal Therapeutic
Ruijianghan Shi1, Huilu Zhan1,2, Shan Jiang3
1Department of Oral and Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Research Unit of Oral and Maxillofacial Regenerative Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200125, China.
None:
Musculoskeletal disorders, including bone fractures, osteoarthritis, and muscle injuries, represent a leading cause of global disability, revealing the urgency for advanced therapeutic solutions. However, current therapies face limitations including donor-site morbidity, immune rejection, and inadequate mimicry of dynamic tissue repair processes. DNA-based hydrogels emerge as transformative platforms for musculoskeletal reconstruction, with their sequence programmability, dynamic adaptability, and biocompatibility to balance structural support and biological functions. These hydrogels are classified into two categories: 1) DNA hydrogels, where DNA serves as the structural backbone; 2) DNA component-loaded hydrogels, integrating functional DNA elements like aptamers and therapeutic genes into non-DNA matrices. Through dynamic crosslinking strategies, primarily Watson-Crick base pairing, DNA networks achieve shear-thinning injectability and self-healing behaviors while providing binding sites for bioactive DNA components. Hybrid systems further enhance functionality by incorporating diverse materials to improve mechanical strength, drug delivery, and cellular guidance. This review systematically examines molecular design principles, classification frameworks, and preclinical applications of DNA-based hydrogels, aiming to bridge gaps between material innovation and clinical translation. Finally, current challenges are highlighted, and future directions to advance these intelligent biomaterials toward next-generation musculoskeletal therapies are proposed.
Related Concept Videos
01:40Bone Remodeling
01:27Fractures: Bone Repair
Minor fractures with no bone displacement are treated by immobilizing the fractured bone using a cast or splint. However, in the case of fractures with displaced bones, the broken bones are repositioned before immobilization to ensure successful healing without deformation and loss of function. The realignment of fractured bone ends is performed through a process called reduction. If the procedure...
01:31Bone Remodeling and Repair