Heng Zheng

Bone defects caused by trauma, infection or tumors remain challenging in clinics. Conventional methods cannot simultaneously regulate the electrical microenvironment, ionic microenvironment and extracellular matrix (ECM) microenvironment during osteogenesis. This study reports a piezoelectric and bioactive glass (BG)-loaded fibrous membrane (PVO) fabricated via electrospinning from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and poly(p-dioxanone) (PPDO). The PVDF component provides piezoelectric stimulation to build the electrical microenvironment, while BG-loaded PPDO enables sustained ion release to optimize the ionic microenvironment. The fibrous structure mimics the ECM microenvironment. In vitro osteogenic differentiation experiments using bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) showed that the PVO fibrous membrane doped with 0.5% BG exhibited the highest alkaline phosphatase (ALP) content after 14 days of electrical stimulation combined with BG treatment, with substantial calcium nodules formed by day 21. In vivo implantation experiments in rat skull defect models further validated its therapeutic potential, with new bone formation observed in the PVO-0.5 group up to day 28. Its structure, piezoelectric performance and ion release synergistically improve osteogenic activity, making the PVO membrane an ideal scaffold for bone tissue engineering and providing an effective solution for bone repair.

The non-absorbability and biological inertia of traditional bone wax often result in foreign body retention, inhibit bone healing, and increase the risk of infection. Herein, a novel absorbable bone wax was developed by mixing polyethylene glycol (PEG), tannic acid (TA), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and low-molecular-weight poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) via one-pot method. Among them, PEG functions as the matrix, endowing it with plasticity and hydrophilicity, thereby facilitating its facile, close fit to the surface of bone defects. TA, with its profusion of phenolic hydroxyl groups, bestows the material with exceptional adhesion properties. The hydroxyl and carboxyl groups in the CMC molecular structure are capable of forming hydrogen bond networks with PEG and TA. Concurrently, hydrophobic PLLA reinforces the hydrogen bond network structure. Absorbable bone wax maintains excellent adhesion in water. The obtained wax shows an adhesion strength of 27.07 kPa and can maintain adhesion to pig bone for 6.0 h in an aqueous environment. In particular, after being soaked in water for 24 h, the bone wax only dissolves on the surface, while the core remains intact. The results of the porcine sternum implantation experiment showed that the hemostatic performance of this bone wax was comparable to that of non-absorbable bone wax. Furthermore, the absorbable bone wax was gradually absorbed, leading to better bone tissue healing. This absorbable formulation could eliminate the 5–15% infection rate associated with traditional bone wax.

Effective prehospital hemostasis is pivotal for improving survival outcomes in arterial hemorrhage. Existing hemostatic materials have limitations in terms of both efficiency and portability, particularly under complex wound conditions. This study engineered a kaolin-reinforced biomimetic adhesive composite powder (DTG-K), which achieved dual hemostatic mechanisms: mechanical occlusion via strong interfacial adhesion (lap-shear strength of 58.3 kPa) and biochemical activation of the intrinsic coagulation pathway through factor XII. In vitro evaluations confirmed its exceptional hemocompatibility, with a 0.93% hemolysis rate. When applied to femoral artery hemorrhage models in Bama swine, DTG-K demonstrated complete hemostasis within 30 s through synergistic physical sealing and biochemical coagulation. These findings demonstrate the potential of DTG-K as an innovative strategy for managing life-threatening arterial hemorrhage in prehospital emergency scenarios.