A multifunctional self-assembled hydrogel with bactericidal activity and macrophage metabolic reprogramming for diabetic bone defect repair

Diabetic bone defects are associated with chronic inflammation, impaired healing, and high susceptibility to infection, posing serious clinical challenges. Recent studies have identified macrophage metabolic dysfunction as a key contributor to this impaired regenerative process. Targeting macrophage...

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Main Authors: Liangliang Wang, Zebin Wu, Xu Chen, Jiaxiang Bai, Wenming Li, Gaoran Ge, Wei Zhang, Wenhao Li, Yi Qin, Gongyin Zhao, Yuji Wang, Guoqing Pan, Yaozeng Xu, Dechun Geng
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Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Materials Today Bio
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259000642500732X
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author Liangliang Wang
Zebin Wu
Xu Chen
Jiaxiang Bai
Wenming Li
Gaoran Ge
Wei Zhang
Wenhao Li
Yi Qin
Gongyin Zhao
Yuji Wang
Guoqing Pan
Yaozeng Xu
Dechun Geng
author_facet Liangliang Wang
Zebin Wu
Xu Chen
Jiaxiang Bai
Wenming Li
Gaoran Ge
Wei Zhang
Wenhao Li
Yi Qin
Gongyin Zhao
Yuji Wang
Guoqing Pan
Yaozeng Xu
Dechun Geng
author_sort Liangliang Wang
collection DOAJ
description Diabetic bone defects are associated with chronic inflammation, impaired healing, and high susceptibility to infection, posing serious clinical challenges. Recent studies have identified macrophage metabolic dysfunction as a key contributor to this impaired regenerative process. Targeting macrophage metabolism offers a promising strategy to rebalance the inflammatory microenvironment and promote bone repair. Metformin, a well-established antidiabetic agent, has been shown to reprogram macrophage metabolism by enhancing oxidative phosphorylation and promoting anti-inflammatory M2 polarization. However, its therapeutic efficacy is limited by poor local retention and lack of antibacterial activity. To overcome these limitations, we developed a multifunctional self-assembled hydrogel (M − C Gel@Met) based on multivalent PEG-antimicrobial polymers and clay nanosheets, enabling sustained co-delivery of metformin and antimicrobial peptides. This hydrogel not only mimics the dynamic structure of the extracellular matrix and adapts to irregular defects, but also provides potent antibacterial protection while reprogramming macrophage metabolism. In diabetic bone defect models, M − C Gel@Met effectively alleviated inflammation, enhanced osteogenesis, and accelerated bone regeneration. Overall, this strategy presents a biomaterial-based immunometabolic strategy integrating infection control and metabolic modulation for diabetic bone repair.
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spelling doaj-art-7b6bd7518f1f45d8a85cf16d8ead51de2025-08-20T02:56:39ZengElsevierMaterials Today Bio2590-00642025-10-013410216210.1016/j.mtbio.2025.102162A multifunctional self-assembled hydrogel with bactericidal activity and macrophage metabolic reprogramming for diabetic bone defect repairLiangliang Wang0Zebin Wu1Xu Chen2Jiaxiang Bai3Wenming Li4Gaoran Ge5Wei Zhang6Wenhao Li7Yi Qin8Gongyin Zhao9Yuji Wang10Guoqing Pan11Yaozeng Xu12Dechun Geng13Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China; Department of Orthopaedics, The Second People's Hospital of Changzhou, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213003, ChinaDepartment of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, ChinaInstitute for Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, ChinaDepartment of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, ChinaDepartment of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, ChinaDepartment of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, ChinaDepartment of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, ChinaDepartment of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, ChinaDepartment of Orthopaedics, The Second People's Hospital of Changzhou, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213003, ChinaDepartment of Orthopaedics, The Second People's Hospital of Changzhou, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213003, China; Corresponding author.Institute for Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China; Corresponding author.Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China; Corresponding author.Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China; Corresponding author.Diabetic bone defects are associated with chronic inflammation, impaired healing, and high susceptibility to infection, posing serious clinical challenges. Recent studies have identified macrophage metabolic dysfunction as a key contributor to this impaired regenerative process. Targeting macrophage metabolism offers a promising strategy to rebalance the inflammatory microenvironment and promote bone repair. Metformin, a well-established antidiabetic agent, has been shown to reprogram macrophage metabolism by enhancing oxidative phosphorylation and promoting anti-inflammatory M2 polarization. However, its therapeutic efficacy is limited by poor local retention and lack of antibacterial activity. To overcome these limitations, we developed a multifunctional self-assembled hydrogel (M − C Gel@Met) based on multivalent PEG-antimicrobial polymers and clay nanosheets, enabling sustained co-delivery of metformin and antimicrobial peptides. This hydrogel not only mimics the dynamic structure of the extracellular matrix and adapts to irregular defects, but also provides potent antibacterial protection while reprogramming macrophage metabolism. In diabetic bone defect models, M − C Gel@Met effectively alleviated inflammation, enhanced osteogenesis, and accelerated bone regeneration. Overall, this strategy presents a biomaterial-based immunometabolic strategy integrating infection control and metabolic modulation for diabetic bone repair.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259000642500732XMacrophageMetabolic reprogrammingBone defectHydrogelMetformin
spellingShingle Liangliang Wang
Zebin Wu
Xu Chen
Jiaxiang Bai
Wenming Li
Gaoran Ge
Wei Zhang
Wenhao Li
Yi Qin
Gongyin Zhao
Yuji Wang
Guoqing Pan
Yaozeng Xu
Dechun Geng
A multifunctional self-assembled hydrogel with bactericidal activity and macrophage metabolic reprogramming for diabetic bone defect repair
Materials Today Bio
Macrophage
Metabolic reprogramming
Bone defect
Hydrogel
Metformin
title A multifunctional self-assembled hydrogel with bactericidal activity and macrophage metabolic reprogramming for diabetic bone defect repair
title_full A multifunctional self-assembled hydrogel with bactericidal activity and macrophage metabolic reprogramming for diabetic bone defect repair
title_fullStr A multifunctional self-assembled hydrogel with bactericidal activity and macrophage metabolic reprogramming for diabetic bone defect repair
title_full_unstemmed A multifunctional self-assembled hydrogel with bactericidal activity and macrophage metabolic reprogramming for diabetic bone defect repair
title_short A multifunctional self-assembled hydrogel with bactericidal activity and macrophage metabolic reprogramming for diabetic bone defect repair
title_sort multifunctional self assembled hydrogel with bactericidal activity and macrophage metabolic reprogramming for diabetic bone defect repair
topic Macrophage
Metabolic reprogramming
Bone defect
Hydrogel
Metformin
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259000642500732X
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