{
  "abstract": "This study developed a pH/ROS dual-responsive SmartGel platform for local CRISPR-Cas9 RNP delivery and TRPV4 inhibition in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). The GelMA/PBA-based SmartGel responded to acidic and oxidative microenvironmental cues and released Cas9/sgRNA under disease-mimicking conditions. In nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, SmartGel-Cas9/TRPV4 lowered ROS accumulation, restored mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and coordinated apoptosis, senescence, Ca2+ homeostasis, CaMKKβ-dependent AMPK-mTOR signaling, and autophagic flux. CaMKKβ knockdown weakened AMPK activation and mTOR inhibition and autophagic-flux restoration, supporting CaMKKβ as a required link in this mechanism. In the rat IVDD model, the system preserved disc architecture, improved hydration status, reinforced extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis, and restrained downstream pathological signaling. Exploratory scRNA-seq and proteomic analyses further indicated treatment-associated shifts in Ca2+/autophagy/MAPK/Wnt-related programs. Overall, SmartGel-Cas9/TRPV4 may attenuate IVDD by restoring CaMKKβ-associated autophagic degradation and ECM balance while limiting aberrant signaling activation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710054, China",
    "Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Spine Bionic Treatment, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Xiao-Jun Yu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Bing-Yao Quan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Peng Zou"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Si-Bo Wang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Ling-Jiang Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Rongjin Luo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Yong-Yuan Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Yuan-Ting Zhao"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/acdps5rrxat0d.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.mtbio.2026.103768",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13734901/",
  "id": "acdps5rrxat0d",
  "issns": [
    "2590-0064"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtbio.2026.103768",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Full Length Article"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2732|Spine and Intervertebral Disc Pathology"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223055864",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13734901",
  "pmid": "42990627",
  "published": "2026-10-20",
  "publisher": "Elsevier",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/acdps5rrxat0d.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-09T12:20:42Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13734901",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtbio.2026.103768"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2732|Spine and Intervertebral Disc Pathology",
      "subfield": "surgery"
    }
  ],
  "title": "pH/ROS dual-responsive SmartGel-Cas9/TRPV4 for autophagy regulation in intervertebral disc degeneration",
  "title_text": "pH/ROS dual-responsive SmartGel-Cas9/TRPV4 for autophagy regulation in intervertebral disc degeneration",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T12:20:42Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/acdps5rrxat0d",
  "venue": "Materials Today Bio",
  "versions": []
}