A Novel Superparamagnetic‐Responsive Hydrogel Facilitates Disc Regeneration by Orchestrating Cell Recruitment, Proliferation, and Differentiation within Hostile Inflammatory Niche

• Published in: Advanced science 2024-11, Vol.11 (44), p.e2408093-n/a
• Main Authors: Xue, Borui, Peng, Yan, Zhang, Yongfeng, Yang, Shijie, Zheng, Yi, Hu, Huiling, Gao, Xueli, Yu, Beibei, Gao, Xue, Li, Shengyou, Wu, Haining, Ma, Teng, Hao, Yiming, Wei, Yitao, Guo, Lingli, Yang, Yujie, Wang, Zhenguo, Xue, Tingfeng, Zhang, Jin, Luo, Beier, Xia, Bing, Huang, Jinghui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Disease Models, Animal; Fourier transforms; Hyaluronic Acid - chemistry; Hyaluronic Acid - pharmacology; Hydrogels; Hydrogels - chemistry; Inflammation; Intervertebral Disc; intervertebral disc regeneration; Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles - chemistry; mechanical stimulation; Nanoparticles; Nucleus Pulposus; nucleus pulposus stem cells; Polyethylene glycol; Rats; Regeneration - drug effects; Regeneration - physiology; Stem cells; superparamagnetic hydrogel
• ISSN: 2198-3844; 2198-3844
• DOI: 10.1002/advs.202408093

In situ disc regeneration is a meticulously orchestrated process, which involves cell recruitment, proliferation and differentiation within a local inflammatory niche. Thus far, it remains a challenge to establish a multi‐staged regulatory framework for coordinating these cellular events, therefore leading to unsatisfactory outcome. This study constructs a super paramagnetically‐responsive cellular gel, incorporating superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and aptamer‐modified palladium‐hydrogen nanozymes (PdH‐Apt) into a double‐network polyacrylamide/hyaluronic acid (PAAm/HA) hydrogel. The Aptamer DB67 within magnetic hydrogel (Mag‐gel) showed a high affinity for disialoganglioside (GD2), a specific membrane ligand of nucleus pulposus stem cells (NPSCs), to precisely recruit them to the injury site. The Mag‐gel exhibits remarkable sensitivity to a magnetic field (MF), which exerts tunable micro/nano‐scale forces on recruited NPSCs and triggers cytoskeletal remodeling, consequently boosting cell expansion in the early stage. By altering the parameters of MF, the mechanical cues within the hydrogel facilitates differentiation of NPSCs into nucleus pulposus cells to restore disc structure in the later stage. Furthermore, the PdH nanozymes within the Mag‐gel mitigate the harsh inflammatory microenvironment, favoring cell survival and disc regeneration. This study presents a remote and multi‐staged strategy for chronologically regulating endogenous stem cell fate, supporting disc regeneration without invasive procedures. The superparamagnetic‐responsive hydrogel integrates SPIONs and aptamer‐modified PdH nanozymes to selectively recruit endogenous stem cells and enhance their proliferation and differentiation through adjustable magnetic fields, while also improving the inflammatory microenvironment. This study introduces a remote and multi‐staged strategy for chronologically regulating endogenous stem cell fate in endogenous regeneration.