High-strength mechanically gradient hydrogels via physical crosslinking for tendon-mimetic tissue repair
Abstract The biomimetic materials that replicate the mechanical gradient transitions from muscle to tendon to bone remain a significant challenge in tissue engineering, particularly through simple and environmentally friendly approaches. This mechanical gradient is crucial for applications such as r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Series: | npj Flexible Electronics |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00430-7 |
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| author | He Zhu Cheng Wang Yican Yang Hongwei Ma Xiaoli Fan Yang Zhang Ziyi Dai Rong Cai Kai Qian |
| author_facet | He Zhu Cheng Wang Yican Yang Hongwei Ma Xiaoli Fan Yang Zhang Ziyi Dai Rong Cai Kai Qian |
| author_sort | He Zhu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The biomimetic materials that replicate the mechanical gradient transitions from muscle to tendon to bone remain a significant challenge in tissue engineering, particularly through simple and environmentally friendly approaches. This mechanical gradient is crucial for applications such as rotator cuff and Achilles tendon repair patches, which prevent stress shielding and ensure uniform stress distribution, addressing the stress concentration issues common in traditional repairs. Here, we present a strategy that achieves high strength even at high water content, enabling programmable modulus/structural gradients with broad applicability. Using rotator cuff tendon repair as a model system, we demonstrate successful in vivo tissue regeneration with integrated real-time sensing capabilities, providing quantitative data for rehabilitation protocols. The hydrogels exhibit precisely controlled regional mechanical properties and seamless interface transitions, mimicking the hierarchical structure of native tissue. This approach not only improves healing outcomes compared to conventional methods but also establishes a quantitative standard for rehabilitation training. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c716cd0f9de44c338824e57331f8f7df |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2397-4621 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Flexible Electronics |
| spelling | doaj-art-c716cd0f9de44c338824e57331f8f7df2025-08-20T03:10:20ZengNature Portfolionpj Flexible Electronics2397-46212025-06-019111110.1038/s41528-025-00430-7High-strength mechanically gradient hydrogels via physical crosslinking for tendon-mimetic tissue repairHe Zhu0Cheng Wang1Yican Yang2Hongwei Ma3Xiaoli Fan4Yang Zhang5Ziyi Dai6Rong Cai7Kai Qian8School of Integrated Circuits, Shandong UniversityDepartment of Orthopaedic, Qilu Hospital of Shandong UniversityCheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong UniversityShandong D-Nutrimec biomedical Co., LtdSchool of Integrated Circuits, Shandong UniversityRehabilitation and Physical Therapy Department, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated HospitalSchool of Integrated Circuits, Shandong UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong UniversitySchool of Integrated Circuits, Shandong UniversityAbstract The biomimetic materials that replicate the mechanical gradient transitions from muscle to tendon to bone remain a significant challenge in tissue engineering, particularly through simple and environmentally friendly approaches. This mechanical gradient is crucial for applications such as rotator cuff and Achilles tendon repair patches, which prevent stress shielding and ensure uniform stress distribution, addressing the stress concentration issues common in traditional repairs. Here, we present a strategy that achieves high strength even at high water content, enabling programmable modulus/structural gradients with broad applicability. Using rotator cuff tendon repair as a model system, we demonstrate successful in vivo tissue regeneration with integrated real-time sensing capabilities, providing quantitative data for rehabilitation protocols. The hydrogels exhibit precisely controlled regional mechanical properties and seamless interface transitions, mimicking the hierarchical structure of native tissue. This approach not only improves healing outcomes compared to conventional methods but also establishes a quantitative standard for rehabilitation training.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00430-7 |
| spellingShingle | He Zhu Cheng Wang Yican Yang Hongwei Ma Xiaoli Fan Yang Zhang Ziyi Dai Rong Cai Kai Qian High-strength mechanically gradient hydrogels via physical crosslinking for tendon-mimetic tissue repair npj Flexible Electronics |
| title | High-strength mechanically gradient hydrogels via physical crosslinking for tendon-mimetic tissue repair |
| title_full | High-strength mechanically gradient hydrogels via physical crosslinking for tendon-mimetic tissue repair |
| title_fullStr | High-strength mechanically gradient hydrogels via physical crosslinking for tendon-mimetic tissue repair |
| title_full_unstemmed | High-strength mechanically gradient hydrogels via physical crosslinking for tendon-mimetic tissue repair |
| title_short | High-strength mechanically gradient hydrogels via physical crosslinking for tendon-mimetic tissue repair |
| title_sort | high strength mechanically gradient hydrogels via physical crosslinking for tendon mimetic tissue repair |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00430-7 |
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