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Periodontitis, a prevalent chronic inflammatory disease worldwide, is triggered by periodontopathogenic bacteria, resulting in the progressive destruction of periodontal tissue, particularly the alveolar bone. To effectively address periodontitis, this study proposed a nanoformulation known as CuS@MSN-SCS. This formulation involves coating citrate-grafted copper sulfide (CuS) nanoparticles with mesoporous silica (MSNs), followed by surface modification using amino groups and sulfated chitosan (SCS) through electrostatic interactions. The objective of this formulation is to achieve efficient bacteria removal by inducing ROS signaling pathways mediated by Cu 2+ ions. Additionally, it aims to promote alveolar bone regeneration through Cu 2+ -induced pro-angiogenesis and SCS-mediated bone regeneration. As anticipated, by regulating the surface charges, the negatively charged CuS nanoparticles capped with sodium citrate were successfully coated with MSNs, and the subsequent introduction of amine groups using (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane was followed by the incorporation of SCS through electrostatic interactions, resulting in the formation of CuS@MSN-SCS. The developed nanoformulation was verified to not only significantly exacerbate the oxidative stress of Fusobacterium nucleatum , thereby suppressing bacteria growth and biofilm formation in vitro , but also effectively alleviate the inflammatory response and promote alveolar bone regeneration without evident biotoxicity in an in vivo rat periodontitis model. These findings contribute to the therapeutic effect on periodontitis. Overall, this study successfully developed a nanoformulation for combating bacteria and facilitating alveolar bone regeneration, demonstrating the promising potential for clinical treatment of periodontitis.

Tooth removal, particularly for patients with severe periodontitis, can frequently cause massive bleeding, postoperative infection, and bone resorption, resulting in a dry socket. Thus, developing bio-multifunctional materials with excellent antibacterial, hemostatic, and osteogenic characteristics for the prevention of dry sockets after tooth removal is highly desirable in clinical applications. Herein, chitosan-CaP microflowers (CM) and metronidazole (MD) loaded calcium alginate (CA) sponges (CA@CM/MD) with enhanced antibacterial, hemostatic, and osteogenic properties were developed via Ca 2+ crosslinking, lyophilization, and electrostatic interaction for the prevention of dry socket after tooth removal. The fabricated CM particles display 3-dimensional, relatively homogeneous, and flower-shaped architectures. The CA@CM/MD composite sponges were facilely shaped into the tooth root as well as exhibit interconnected porous and lamellar structures with remarkable porosity, suitable maximum swelling ratio, as well as excellent compressive and hemostatic performance. Besides, the in vitro cellular assessment demonstrates that the prepared CA@CM/MD composite sponges possess satisfactory cytocompatibility. Importantly, the designed sponges significantly suppress the growth of S. aureus and E. coli, as well as promote cellular osteogenic differentiation by upregulating the formation of alkaline phosphatase. Our findings indicate that the tooth root-shaped composite sponges hold great promise for wound management after tooth removal., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Triggering the repair process of diabetic wounds is a huge clinical challenge due to microbial infection, the reduced migration and proliferation of fibroblasts, decreased angiogenesis and collagen formation caused by the long-term negative stimulation of high blood glucose levels. Herein, bio-multifunctional benzaldehyde-terminated 4-arm PEG (4-arm-PEG-CHO)/carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS)/basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) hydrogels (BP/CS-bFGF) are prepared via the dynamic Schiff base reaction for diabetic wound treatment. BP/CS-bFGF hydrogel dressing shows strong wet-tissue adhesion, self-mending, and antibacterial property. Biological assessments display that the BP/CS-bFGF hydrogel has excellent biocompatibility and fast hemostasis capacity. Importantly, BP/CS-bFGF hydrogel dressing significantly accelerates full-thickness diabetic wound repair by increasing the production of Ki67, promotes the generation of epithelialization and collagen, induces the formation of hair follicles, and enhances neovascularization by upregulating the production of CD31 and CD34. Thus, our work demonstrates that BP/CS-bFGF hydrogel dressing displays great potential for diabetic chronic wound management., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Conventional wound-dressing materials with structural and functional deficiencies are not effective in promoting wound healing. The development of multifunctional wound dressings is emerging as a promising strategy to accelerate blood coagulation, inhibit bacterial infection, and trigger full-thickness wound into a regenerative process. Herein, multifunctional composite sponges were developed by incorporation of traditional Chinese medicine Kangfuxin (KFX) into alginate (AG)/carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) via green crosslinking, electrostatic interaction, and freeze-drying methods. It is demonstrated that the AG/CMC/KFX (ACK) sponges exhibit a highly interconnected and porous structure, suitable water vapor transmittance, excellent elastic properties, antibacterial behavior, cytocompatibility, and rapid hemostasis. Further, in a rat full-thickness wounds model, the ACK sponge containing 10% KFX (ACK-10) significantly facilitates wound closure compared to the AC group and ACK sponge containing 5% and 15% KFX. Thus, the multifunctional ACK-10 composite sponge has great promise for the application of full-thickness wound healing., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing financial interest., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

A polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticle comprising chitosan (CS) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) was prepared (CS/CMCS-NPs) by ionic gelation, which was then used as a doxycycline carrier (Dox:CS/CMCS-NPs). The obtained CS/CMCS-NPs and Dox:CS/CMCS-NPs were characterized for various parameters and bacteriostatic ability against Porphyromonas gingivalis. The regulation of related genes and proteins of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) was characterized by qRT-PCR, western blotting and ELISA. The results showed that Dox:CS/CMCS-NPs had an orderly morphology and an excellent cytocompatibility. P. gingivalis was strongly inhibited by Dox:CS/CMCS-NPs contrasted with control group. Dox:CS/CMCS-NPs effectively down-regulated both gene and protein levels of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β in HGFs. This study provides a new method for rational application of Dox in the clinical treatment of periodontal disease and a new direction for explaining the mechanism of action of Dox:CS/CMCS-NPs and more drug-carrying nanoparticles., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Minimally invasive implants and/or scaffolds integrated with multiple functionalities are of interest in the clinical settings. In this paper, chitosan (CTS) functionalized poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres containing a model payload, lysozyme (Lyz), were prepared by a water-in-oil-in-water emulsion method, from which cylindrical shaped rod (5 mm in diameter) was fabricated by sintering the composite microspheres in a mold. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) was then employed as a unique technique to enable shape memory and payload release effects of the three-dimensional (3-D) structure. It was found that incorporation of CTS into PLGA microspheres could regulate the transition temperature Ttrans of the microsphere from 45 to 50 °C and affect shape memory ratio of the fabricated cylindrical rod to some extent. Shape memory test and drug release assay proved that HIFU could modulate the shape recovery process and synchronize the release kinetics of the encapsulated Lyz in the rod in a switchable manner. Moreover, the two processes could be manipulated by varying the acoustic power and insonation duration. Mechanical tests of the microspheres-based rod before and after ultrasound irradiation revealed its compressive properties in the range of trabecular bone. Examination of the degradation behavior indicated that the introduction of CTS into the PLGA microspheres also alleviated acidic degradation characteristic of the PLGA-dominant cylindrical rod. With HIFU, this study thus demonstrated the desired capabilities of shape recovery and payload release effects integrated in one microspheres-based biodegradable cylindrical structure.

The controllable motion of materials in response to external stimuli has profoundly impacted various applications such as robots, sensors, self-adaptive devices, and targeted therapy. However, remote control of unmodified materials by external signals is still rare. In this work, the controlled motion of marine polysaccharides in tetrachloromethane is found when fingers wearing nitrile gloves touch on or move around the plastic tube, similar to magnet field-driven iron powders. The effects of several key parameters on the magnet-like motion of chitosan are investigated, including solvents, concentrations, molecular weight, and containers. By adjusting these parameters, the formation and degree of magnet-like motion can be significantly tuned. In addition to chitosan, the controllable motion of fucoidan and the chitosan/fucoidan mixture is also detected. Further investigation sheds light on the mechanism of this motion, which is proven to be the force of static electricity. Based on this, chitosan/fucoidan nanoparticles are successfully prepared and manipulated by remote control. Thus, this work offers a facile approach for obtaining controllable motion of marine polysaccharides, opening doors to precise manipulation of nonmagnetic nanomaterials by remote control and holding great potential in nanomedicine, sensors, robotics, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis and characterization of PVA-chitosan-NiO, PVA-chitosan-TiO 2 , and PVA-chitosan-TiO 2 @NiO films have opened avenues for tailoring materials with specific electrical, dielectric, and optical properties. The synergistic effects arising from the combination of polymers and metal oxides offer a platform for further optimization and application-specific tuning. The synthesis process successfully incorporated NiO and TiO 2 nanoparticles into the PVA-chitosan matrix, creating three distinct films: PVA-chitosan-NiO, PVA-chitosan-TiO 2 , and PVA-chitosan-TiO 2 @NiO. Structural analyses, including X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealed well-defined nanostructures with crystalline metal oxide dispersions. Dielectric characterization demonstrated frequency-dependent behavior, elucidating the influence of metal oxides on dielectric constants and loss tangents. Cole–Cole plots provide insights into relaxation processes and can guide applications in capacitors and energy storage devices. Conductivity measurements highlight the enhanced electrical performance of NiO and TiO 2. This study provides a foundation for future research on the development of advanced functional materials for a wide range of technological applications. The insights gained from this work contribute to the growing body of knowledge on polymer-metal oxide composites and pave the way for innovations in electronic, optoelectronic, and energy-related technologies. • Developed PVA-chitosan hybrid films incorporating TiO 2 and NiO nanoparticles for advanced functional material applications were prepared. • Employed X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to confirm well-defined nanostructures and homogeneous dispersion of metal oxide nanoparticles within the polymer matrix. • Performance including higher dielectric constants and reduced loss tangents, highlighting potential in capacitive and energy storage applications were improved. • Enhanced electrical conductivity in PVA-chitosan-TiO 2 @NiO films compared to individual PVA-chitosan-NiO and PVA-chitosan-TiO 2 films was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral inflammatory diseases (OIDs) are among the most common lesions in the oral cavity, affecting the quality of human life and even causing oral cancer. However, most of the current oral mucosa patches still have some limitations, particularly instant, poor mechanical strength and conformability, low adhesion to tissue, and foreign body sensation. Herein, triamcinolone acetonide (TA)-loaded chitosan/fucoidan (CF) composite hydrogels were prepared via chemical crosslinking. The macro/microscopic morphologies and (bio)physicochemical properties of composite hydrogels were investigated. Incorporating fucoidan in chitosan hydrogels greatly enhanced their swelling behavior, mechanical strength, and adhesion properties. Further, the addition of TA in CF hydrogels improved their elastic feature, inhibited inflammatory response, and promoted the formation of mature and well-organized collagen fibers. The developed composite hydrogels displayed not only good antibacterial properties but also good cytocompatibility and histocompatibility. Thus, the designed hydrogels allow the development of oral mucosa patches as a potential treatment for OIDs. [Display omitted] • Chitosan/fucoidan/triamcinolone acetonide (CFT) hydrogels are developed. • CFT hydrogels possess excellent elastic, flexible, and adhesive properties. • CFT hydrogels have great antibacterial ability. • CFT hydrogels show good cytocompatibility and histocompatibility. • CFT hydrogels display great potential as oral mucosa patches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]