{
  "abstract": "Both carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) and Mn2+ can stimulate the cGAS-STING pathway to promote the production of immune factors such as type I interferons (I IFNs), thereby regulating the body’s immune response. In this study, a sustained-release Mn2+-loaded CMCS-Mn hydrogel was designed, and the synergistic effects of CMCS and Mn2+ on innate immunity, as well as factors influencing the immune response, were investigated. The optimal gel formulation was obtained with a CMCS concentration of 1 mg/mL and a MnCl2 concentration of 0.02 mol/L, yielding a gel with a particle size of 472.16 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.35, a Mn2+ content of 1.488 mg/g, and a specific surface area of 4.74 m2/g. The hydrogel forms mainly via coordination interactions between Mn2+ and the amino and carboxyl groups on CMCS molecular chains and exhibits pH-dependent Mn2+ release behavior. Cellular assays demonstrated that the combination of 600 μg/mL CMCS-Mn2+ hydrogel and 5 μg/mL free Mn2+ produced the strongest IFN-β induction. The hydrogel exhibits synergistic immunomodulatory effects of both CMCS and Mn2+; while the amino groups are critical for the immunological activity of CMCS, Mn2+ plays a more prominent role. Partial substitution of Mn2+ by Ca2+ can loosen the cross-linked network and further modulate Mn2+ dissociation from the hydrogel.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "College of Chemistry, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China",
    "College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yue Yang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xiaoxin Chen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Shijie Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Yuncai Xiao",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-0171-9693"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xianwen Hu"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9vshc04fm4tfn.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/molecules31213891",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "9vshc04fm4tfn",
  "issns": [
    "1420-3049"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/21/3891",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1313|Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7224106639",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-28",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9vshc04fm4tfn.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:42Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/molecules31213891",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/21/3891"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:1313|Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Coordination-Crosslinked Carboxymethyl Chitosan-Mn2+ Hydrogel: Structure–Activity Relationship for In Vitro cGAS-STING Immune Stimulation",
  "title_text": "Coordination-Crosslinked Carboxymethyl Chitosan-Mn2+ Hydrogel: Structure–Activity Relationship for In Vitro cGAS-STING Immune Stimulation",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:42Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9vshc04fm4tfn",
  "venue": "Molecules",
  "versions": []
}