Protein-based double-network hydrogels mimicking oral mucosa
The oral mucosa plays a critical role in protecting the body from external threats and serves as a key site for drug absorption. However, ethical concerns and the high costs associated with animal models traditionally used for oral mucosa research have increased the demand for reliable alternatives....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Chemistry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2025.1618870/full |
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| author | Yu Zhang Yu Zhang Liang Dong Keqing Wang Yuanqi Cheng Tian Gao Jiapeng Yang Xiaochen Shen Yi Cao Bin Xue |
| author_facet | Yu Zhang Yu Zhang Liang Dong Keqing Wang Yuanqi Cheng Tian Gao Jiapeng Yang Xiaochen Shen Yi Cao Bin Xue |
| author_sort | Yu Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The oral mucosa plays a critical role in protecting the body from external threats and serves as a key site for drug absorption. However, ethical concerns and the high costs associated with animal models traditionally used for oral mucosa research have increased the demand for reliable alternatives. In this study, we developed two types of protein-based double-network hydrogels to replicate the mechanical and structural properties of buccal mucosa and hard palate, respectively. By incorporating polyprotein into the rigid network and elastin-like peptides as the loose network, we fabricated hydrogels that closely resemble the physical properties of natural oral mucosa. These hydrogels exhibit a microporous structure, as well as surface and mechanical properties, and particle permeability comparable to native tissue, while maintaining excellent biocompatibility. We anticipate that these hydrogels can serve as model systems for investigating drug delivery, pathogen interactions, and aerosol particle adsorption in the oral mucosa. The design principles presented in this study could also be extended to fabricate protein-based biomaterials that mimic mucosal tissues in the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tracts, providing a general approach for developing biomimetic materials for mucosal tissues. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-690afca6b36a4475b5edce3b6a12265d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-2646 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Chemistry |
| spelling | doaj-art-690afca6b36a4475b5edce3b6a12265d2025-08-20T02:23:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Chemistry2296-26462025-06-011310.3389/fchem.2025.16188701618870Protein-based double-network hydrogels mimicking oral mucosaYu Zhang0Yu Zhang1Liang Dong2Keqing Wang3Yuanqi Cheng4Tian Gao5Jiapeng Yang6Xiaochen Shen7Yi Cao8Bin Xue9Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaJinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaChina Tobacco Jiangsu Industrial Co., Ltd., Nanjing, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaJinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, ChinaChina Tobacco Jiangsu Industrial Co., Ltd., Nanjing, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaThe oral mucosa plays a critical role in protecting the body from external threats and serves as a key site for drug absorption. However, ethical concerns and the high costs associated with animal models traditionally used for oral mucosa research have increased the demand for reliable alternatives. In this study, we developed two types of protein-based double-network hydrogels to replicate the mechanical and structural properties of buccal mucosa and hard palate, respectively. By incorporating polyprotein into the rigid network and elastin-like peptides as the loose network, we fabricated hydrogels that closely resemble the physical properties of natural oral mucosa. These hydrogels exhibit a microporous structure, as well as surface and mechanical properties, and particle permeability comparable to native tissue, while maintaining excellent biocompatibility. We anticipate that these hydrogels can serve as model systems for investigating drug delivery, pathogen interactions, and aerosol particle adsorption in the oral mucosa. The design principles presented in this study could also be extended to fabricate protein-based biomaterials that mimic mucosal tissues in the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tracts, providing a general approach for developing biomimetic materials for mucosal tissues.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2025.1618870/fullprotein hydrogeldouble-network hydrogeloral mucosabiomimetic materialelastin-like polypeptide |
| spellingShingle | Yu Zhang Yu Zhang Liang Dong Keqing Wang Yuanqi Cheng Tian Gao Jiapeng Yang Xiaochen Shen Yi Cao Bin Xue Protein-based double-network hydrogels mimicking oral mucosa Frontiers in Chemistry protein hydrogel double-network hydrogel oral mucosa biomimetic material elastin-like polypeptide |
| title | Protein-based double-network hydrogels mimicking oral mucosa |
| title_full | Protein-based double-network hydrogels mimicking oral mucosa |
| title_fullStr | Protein-based double-network hydrogels mimicking oral mucosa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Protein-based double-network hydrogels mimicking oral mucosa |
| title_short | Protein-based double-network hydrogels mimicking oral mucosa |
| title_sort | protein based double network hydrogels mimicking oral mucosa |
| topic | protein hydrogel double-network hydrogel oral mucosa biomimetic material elastin-like polypeptide |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2025.1618870/full |
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