H₂-driven autonomous pore-forming hydrogel promotes rapid vascularization for dry socket healing.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Oral Surgery

Background:

• Dry socket (DS) is a common post-tooth extraction complication characterized by delayed healing due to impaired angiogenesis.
• Current treatments for DS face challenges in promoting effective tissue repair and vascularization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a dynamic hydrogel loaded with magnesium microspheres (Mg/Gel) for sustained hydrogen (H₂) generation to treat dry socket.
• To investigate the H₂-releasing hydrogel's ability to promote angiogenesis and facilitate alveolar bone regeneration.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a dynamic hydrogel incorporating functional magnesium microspheres (Mg/Gel) for autonomous H₂ generation.
• In vitro and in vivo studies utilizing dry socket implantation models to assess inflammation, macrophage polarization, and angiogenesis.
• Evaluation of the hydrogel's bioadhesion to gingiva and alveolar bone for sustained H₂ release.

Main Results:

• Mg/Gel demonstrated sustained and localized H₂ release due to strong bioadhesion, creating a porous structure that supports vascularization.
• Released H₂ attenuated inflammation by modulating macrophage polarization via the NF-κB pathway and promoted angiogenesis by activating NRF2 to stabilize HIF-1α.
• In vivo models showed Mg/Gel mitigated inflammation in early DS healing and enhanced angiogenesis during the proliferative stage, accelerating alveolar bone regeneration.

Conclusions:

• The H₂-releasing Mg/Gel hydrogel offers a transformative strategy for dry socket treatment by spatiotemporally coordinating healing processes.
• This biomaterial effectively promotes angiogenesis and bone regeneration while managing inflammation, addressing key challenges in DS management.