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Updated: Mar 12, 2026
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Surgical Technique for the Implantation of a Biomimetic Artificial Intervertebral Disc in a Goat Animal Model
Published on: October 10, 2025
659
One-Stone-Three-Birds Biomimetic Oral Targeting Delivery Strategy for On-Demand Controlled Drug Release and
Yifan Ding1, Yixin Cai1, Weizhen Pan2
1Department of Thoracic Surgery Tongji Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan China.
Exploration (Beijing, China)
|March 11, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a novel oral drug delivery system for intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) treatment. The biomimetic system targets degenerated discs, releasing medication on-demand to promote regeneration and suppress IDD progression.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) involves inflammation, immune dysfunction, and metabolic disorders.
- Current treatments like local injections are invasive and carry risks.
- Developing non-invasive, targeted therapies for IDD remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design a novel oral delivery system for targeted drug delivery to degenerated intervertebral discs (IVDs).
- To enable on-demand drug release triggered by the IVD microenvironment.
- To investigate a multi-targeted therapeutic approach for IDD treatment.
Main Methods:
- Development of a biomimetic oral delivery system using yeast microcapsules (YC) and ROS-responsive nanoparticles.
- Oral administration of Celastrol (Cel) via the YC system.
- Utilizing macrophage "hitchhiking" for targeted IVD delivery and ROS-triggered release.
Main Results:
- The system achieved targeted delivery to degenerated IVDs.
- Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the inflammatory microenvironment triggered accelerated Cel release.
- The treatment demonstrated multi-targeted effects: inhibiting inflammasome, reprogramming macrophages, and modulating lipid metabolism.
- These actions reversed the degenerative nucleus pulposus microenvironment and promoted tissue regeneration, suppressing IDD progression.
Conclusions:
- A novel, non-invasive oral targeted delivery strategy for IDD treatment was developed.
- The system integrates biomimetic engineering with on-demand drug release for effective IDD management.
- This approach offers a comprehensive framework for microenvironmental remodeling and provides insights into intervertebral disc regeneration.
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