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Injectable pH-responsive Bletilla striata polysaccharide-sodium alginate hydrogel promoting peripheral nerve
Yuxin Guo1, Yongchen Cui2, Qiqi Wu3
1State Key Laboratory of Synergistic Chem-Bio Synthesis, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|July 3, 2026
Summary
A new pH-responsive hydrogel promotes nerve regeneration after injury. This injectable biomaterial supports controlled release of Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) to enhance axonal regrowth and functional recovery in peripheral nerve injury (TPNI) models.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Traumatic peripheral nerve injury (TPNI) presents significant clinical challenges for nerve regeneration.
- Injectable hydrogels are promising for TPNI treatment by mimicking nerve regeneration cascades.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an injectable, pH-responsive composite hydrogel (BSP-SA) for enhanced peripheral nerve regeneration.
- To investigate the controlled release of Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) and its therapeutic effects on TPNI.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a pH-responsive hydrogel from Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) and sodium alginate (SA).
- Evaluation of hydrogel properties: injectability, swelling, biocompatibility, and BSP release kinetics.
- Assessment of hydrogel efficacy in a rat TPNI model, including axonal regrowth, myelination, and functional recovery.
- Transcriptomic analysis to elucidate the underlying regeneration mechanisms, focusing on the IL-1β/MMP-13 pathway.
Main Results:
- The BSP-SA hydrogel demonstrated shear-thinning injectability, high swelling, and biocompatibility.
- Sustained BSP release was achieved, responding to the acidic microenvironment of injured nerves.
- Hydrogel treatment significantly improved axonal regrowth, myelination, and functional recovery in TPNI rats.
- IL-1β/MMP-13 signaling in Schwann cells was identified as a key mechanism in hydrogel-mediated regeneration.
Conclusions:
- The pH-responsive BSP-SA hydrogel enables spatiotemporal delivery of BSP for TPNI treatment.
- This novel hydrogel platform shows significant potential for promoting nerve regeneration and functional recovery.
- The findings highlight a translatable therapeutic strategy for peripheral nerve repair.
