Activated Carbon-Reinforced Super-Structured Porous Hydrogel With Robust Mechanical and Excellent Pro-Healing...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Immunomodulation

Background:

• Abdominal wall defect repair requires biomaterials with mechanical support, immune modulation, and regenerative capabilities.
• Current biomaterials struggle to integrate these essential functions effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel incorporating activated carbon (AC) for enhanced abdominal wall defect repair.
• To create a super-structured porous PVA (SPVA-AC) hydrogel with improved mechanical and immunomodulatory properties.

Main Methods:

• Incorporation of activated carbon (AC) into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to create super-structured porous PVA (SPVA-AC) hydrogel.
• Characterization of hydrogel porosity, mechanical strength, and immunomodulatory effects.
• Evaluation in a rat model of abdominal wall defect.

Main Results:

• SPVA-AC hydrogel exhibited high porosity, superior mechanical strength, and effective scavenging of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory factors.
• AC acted as both a pore-expanding agent and a rigid crosslinking center, enhancing fibroblast infiltration and mechanical stability.
• The hydrogel promoted M2 macrophage polarization, reduced inflammation, and accelerated tissue healing in vivo.
• Demonstrated anti-adhesion properties and robust mechanical stability in wet conditions.

Conclusions:

• The developed SPVA-AC hydrogel offers a scalable and effective strategy for soft tissue reconstruction.
• This biomaterial demonstrates significant potential for improving abdominal wall defect repair by integrating mechanical support and immunomodulation.
• The facile incorporation of AC provides a versatile approach for designing advanced functional biomaterials.