デュアル動的架橋自己修復キトサンベースヒドロゲルによるミクロ環境再構築とミトコンドリア恒常性維持による腱症進行の改善

Tendinopathy is a disease of the musculoskeletal system resulting from excessive or abnormal mechanical loading of tendons. Reconstruction of disorganized fibers remains a preceding issue and challenge in sports medicine. Therefore, developing novel delivery systems to promote regeneration after tendinopathy is imminently desired. A dual-dynamic crosslinked framework was constructed here through ligand bonds created between the amino or carboxyl groups in gelatin and Fe³⁺, as well as hydrogen-binding between gelatin and curcumin-grafted carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analyses indicated that the iron was uniformly distributed in the porosity structure. G-CM@Cur/Fe system combines excellent adhesion, sustained drug release, and anti-inflammatory properties, enabling responsive degradation in the injury area of tendons for the on-demand release of curcumin. Stained slices indicated the 2-week intervention reduced the Bonar score in tendinopathy by approximately 61.7 %. The G-CM@Cur/Fe exhibits reduced inflammation and ordered collagen fibers alignment. In this study, a multifunctional hydrogel was designed to sustain curcumin release and support mitochondrial homeostasis and immune microenvironment remodeling, providing a potential therapeutic approach for tendinopathy.