Haiguang Zhang

Vascular stent implantation is a major treatment for vascular diseases, yet postoperative infection and persistent inflammation increase the risk of in-stent restenosis. Herein, core–shell structured PCL/PEO-PVP fiber membranes co-loaded with ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CIP) and curcumin (CUR) were fabricated via coaxial electrospinning. Orthogonal experiments were conducted to optimize critical spinning parameters through multi-index comprehensive evaluation. Characterizations confirm intact core–shell architecture and stable polymeric backbone structure. In vitro release tests reveal sequential drug-delivery behavior: a rapid initial release of hydrophilic CIP and a delayed sustained release of hydrophobic CUR were observed, contributing to early-stage antibacterial and long-term anti-inflammatory effects, respectively. The “antibacterial zone” method verifies favorable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). ELISA results demonstrate the enhanced anti-inflammatory capacity of the dual-drug-loaded coaxial fiber membrane. Cellular assays confirm satisfactory cytocompatibility, and endothelial cells achieve normal proliferation and exhibit typical polygonal morphology on the membrane surface. This dual-drug-loaded coaxial-fiber membrane realizes coordinated sequential antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which provides a feasible strategy for developing functional coatings toward vascular stents.

Additive manufacturing technology is often used to manufacture complex structures. With this technology, continuous fibers can be printed flexibly. In this study, a grid filling method for 3D printing continuous carbon fibers is proposed. This method enables the carbon fibers to obtain a good orientation by changing the relevant parameters of the sinusoidal curve. A grid filling structure composed of multiple sinusoidal curves was designed, which could freely set the number of the curves. The sinusoidal grid can be further optimized using a variable-density method, which can adjust the grid density based on stress distribution. The test results indicate that the variable-density method can effectively enhance the sinusoidal grid structures. This path planning method provides more possibilities for 3D printing of continuous carbon fiber composite structures.

A biomimetic cartilage scaffold featuring a continuous hydroxyapatite (HA) concentration gradient and a spatially curved architecture was developed using a dual-channel mixing extrusion-based 3D printing approach. By dynamically regulating the feeding rates of two bioinks during printing, a continuous HA gradient decreasing from the bottom to the top of the scaffold was precisely achieved, mimicking the compositional transition from the calcified to the non-calcified cartilage region in native articular cartilage. The integration of gradient material deposition with synchronized multi-axis motion enabled accurate fabrication of curved geometries with high structural fidelity. The printed scaffolds exhibited stable swelling and degradation behavior and showed improved compressive performance compared with step-gradient counterparts. Rheological analysis confirmed that the bioinks possessed suitable shear-thinning and recovery properties, ensuring printability and shape stability during extrusion. In vitro evaluations demonstrated good cytocompatibility, supporting bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) adhesion and proliferation. Chondrogenic assessment based on scaffold extracts indicated that the incorporation of HA and its gradient distribution did not inhibit cartilage-related extracellular matrix synthesis, confirming the biosafety of the composite hydrogel system. Overall, this study presents a controllable and versatile fabrication strategy for constructing curved, compositionally graded cartilage scaffolds, providing a promising platform for the development of biomimetic cartilage tissue engineering constructs.

Gene therapy, which treats genetic diseases by fixing defective genes, has gained significant attention. Viral vectors show great potential for gene delivery but face limitations like poor targeting, uncontrolled release, and risks from high-dose delivery which can lower efficiency and trigger immune responses. Loading viral vectors onto tissue engineered scaffolds presents a promising strategy to address these challenges, but their widespread application remains limited due to concerns regarding viral vector bioactivity, scaffold biocompatibility, and the stability of sustained release. An adeno-associated virus (AAV), recognized for its safety, high efficiency, and low immunogenicity, was employed as a model virus. In this study, we developed an electrospun scaffold (AAV/PCL-PEO@Co-ES) by encapsulating the AAV within core–shell fibers composed of polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) via coaxial electrospinning. This configuration ensures viral vector protection while enabling controlled and sustained release. The physicochemical characterization results indicated that the scaffold exhibited excellent mechanical properties (tensile strength: 3.22 ± 0.48 MPa) and wettability (WCA: 67.90 ± 8.45°). In vitro release and cell transduction assays demonstrated that the AAV-loaded scaffold effectively controls viral vector release and transduction. Furthermore, both in vitro and in vivo evaluations demonstrated good biocompatibility and efficient viral vector delivery. These findings highlight the potential of the AAV/PCL-PEO@Co-ES scaffold as a safe and effective platform for sustained gene delivery, offering valuable insights for the future design of clinically relevant viral vector delivery systems.

Tension-free hernioplasty has effectively reduced postoperative recurrence and mitigated complications by employing polymer patches. However, clinically used polymer patches often fall short in terms of the anti-deformation, anti-adhesion, and tissue integration functions, which can result in visceral adhesions and foreign body reactions after implantation. In this study, a Janus three-layer composite patch was developed for abdominal wall defect repair using a combination of 3D printing, electrospraying, and electrospinning technologies. On the visceral side, a dense electrospun polyvinyl alcohol/sodium hyaluronate (PVA/HA) scaffold was fabricated to inhibit cell adhesion. The middle layer, composed of polycaprolactone (PCL), provided mechanical support. On the muscle-facing side, a loose and porous electrospun nanofiber scaffold was created through electrospraying and electrospinning, promoting cell adhesion and migration to facilitate tissue regeneration. Mechanical testing demonstrated that the composite patch possessed excellent tensile strength (23.58 N/cm), surpassing the clinical standard (16 N/cm). Both in vitro and in vivo evaluations confirmed the patch’s outstanding biocompatibility. Compared with the control PCL patch, the Janus composite patch significantly reduced the visceral adhesion and enhanced the tissue repair in animal models. Collectively, this Janus composite patch integrated anti-deformation, anti-adhesion, and tissue-regenerative properties, providing a promising solution for effective abdominal wall defect repair.

Gene therapy, which treats genetic diseases by fixing defective genes, has gained significant attention. Viral vectors show great potential for gene delivery but face limitations like low transduction efficiency and poor targeting. Loading viral vectors onto tissue engineered scaffolds presents a promising strategy to address these challenges, but their widespread application remains limited by challenges like vector stability, biomaterial selection, and high manufacturing costs. Adeno-associated virus (AAV), recognized for its safety, high efficiency, and low immunogenicity, was employed as a model virus. In this study, AAV was encapsulated within electrospun fibers (AAV/PCL-PEO@Co-ES) composed of polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) via coaxial electrospinning, ensuring effective AAV protection and controlled release. The physicochemical characterization results indicated that the scaffold exhibited excellent mechanical properties (tensile strength: 3.22 ± 0.48 MPa) and wettability (WCA: 67.90 ± 8.45°). In vitro release and cell transduction assays demonstrated that the AAV-loaded scaffold effectively control viral vector release and transduction. Furthermore, the in vitro cell and in vivo animal experiments suggested that the AAV-loaded scaffolds exhibit excellent biocompatibility and efficient viral vector delivery capability. Hence, our research not only enhances the storage and delivery of viral vectors but also provides innovative solutions for viral vector delivery strategies.

Neurological injuries and diseases are a leading cause of disability worldwide, underscoring the urgent need for effective therapies. Neural regaining and enhancement therapies are seen as the most promising strategies for restoring neural function, offering hope for individuals affected by these conditions. Despite their promise, the path from animal research to clinical application is fraught with challenges. Neuroengineering, particularly through the use of biomaterials, has emerged as a key field that is paving the way for innovative solutions to these challenges. It seeks to understand and treat neurological disorders, unravel the nature of consciousness, and explore the mechanisms of memory and the brain’s relationship with behavior, offering solutions for neural tissue engineering, neural interfaces and targeted drug delivery systems. These biomaterials, including both natural and synthetic types, are designed to replicate the cellular environment of the brain, thereby facilitating neural repair. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview for biomaterials in neuroengineering, highlighting their application in neural functional regaining and enhancement across both basic research and clinical practice. It covers recent developments in biomaterial-based products, including 2D to 3D bioprinted scaffolds for cell and organoid culture, brain-on-a-chip systems, biomimetic electrodes and brain–computer interfaces. It also explores artificial synapses and neural networks, discussing their applications in modeling neural microenvironments for repair and regeneration, neural modulation and manipulation and the integration of traditional Chinese medicine. This review serves as a comprehensive guide to the role of biomaterials in advancing neuroengineering solutions, providing insights into the ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between innovation and clinical application.