A cell-adaptive nanostructured hydrogel enables an early regenerative microenvironment for peripheral nerve repair.
5 affiliations
- 1School of Preclinical Medicine and School of Nursing, Chengdu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
- 2Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- 3Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- 4Aging Mechanisms Interventions Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China.
- 5Key Laboratory of Non-coding RNA and Drug Discovery at Chengdu Medical College of Sichuan Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China.
Abstract
Nerve conduits serve as critical clinical tools for peripheral nerve repair, yet delayed intraluminal endogenous cellular occupation significantly impedes early nerve regeneration. Cell-adaptive fillers capable of dynamically supporting endogenous cellular activities would provide an early regenerative microenvironment to accelerate nerve repair. Here, we show a cell-adaptive nanostructured hydrogel-filled nerve conduit for improving peripheral nerve repair. This hydrogel is formed by gelatin methacryloyl via self-assembly and photopolymerization-based printing. It features a unique nanostructure that could fast adapt cells via squeeze-induced space release. Meanwhile, this nanostructured hydrogel can promote Schwann cell proliferation and migration, and cellular contact formation, which may be associated with enhanced cell-matrix interactions and mechanotransduction-related responses. Filling into a conduit composed of inner electrospun fiber layer and outer hydrogel layer, this hydrogel significantly facilitates Schwann cell occupation compared to hollow conduits at one-week post-implantation. A 10 mm nerve defect is reconnected by regenerative nerve bridges in the hydrogel-filled conduit accompanied by substantial hydrogel degradation within 24 days. At 12 weeks post-surgery, this conduit treatment induces better nerve regeneration and functional recovery than the conventional conduit treatment. This work demonstrates a nanostructured cell-adaptive hydrogel for engineering early regenerative microenvironments, providing a promising biomaterial platform for peripheral nerve repair.
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BibTeX
@article{wu2026celladaptive,
title = {{A cell-adaptive nanostructured hydrogel enables an early regenerative microenvironment for peripheral nerve repair.}},
author = {Wenbi Wu and Qi Zhu and Yinchu Dong and Wei Zhao and Min Peng and Yi Zhang and Jiamei Zhang and Haofan Liu and Li Li and Jinlu Liu and Li Zhang and Ya Ren and Xia Luo and Boya Li and Ting Du and Maling Gou},
journal = {Materials today. Bio},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.mtbio.2026.103725},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42899163},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A cell-adaptive nanostructured hydrogel enables an early regenerative microenvironment for peripheral nerve repair.
AU - Wenbi Wu
AU - Qi Zhu
AU - Yinchu Dong
AU - Wei Zhao
AU - Min Peng
AU - Yi Zhang
AU - Jiamei Zhang
AU - Haofan Liu
AU - Li Li
AU - Jinlu Liu
AU - Li Zhang
AU - Ya Ren
AU - Xia Luo
AU - Boya Li
AU - Ting Du
AU - Maling Gou
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/05
JO - Materials today. Bio
DO - 10.1016/j.mtbio.2026.103725
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42899163
AB - Nerve conduits serve as critical clinical tools for peripheral nerve repair, yet delayed intraluminal endogenous cellular occupation significantly impedes early nerve regeneration. Cell-adaptive fillers capable of dynamically supporting endogenous cellular activities would provide an early regenerative microenvironment to accelerate nerve repair. Here, we show a cell-adaptive nanostructured hydrogel-filled nerve conduit for improving peripheral nerve repair. This hydrogel is formed by gelatin methacryloyl via self-assembly and photopolymerization-based printing. It features a unique nanostructure that could fast adapt cells via squeeze-induced space release. Meanwhile, this nanostructured hydrogel can promote Schwann cell proliferation and migration, and cellular contact formation, which may be associated with enhanced cell-matrix interactions and mechanotransduction-related responses. Filling into a conduit composed of inner electrospun fiber layer and outer hydrogel layer, this hydrogel significantly facilitates Schwann cell occupation compared to hollow conduits at one-week post-implantation. A 10 mm nerve defect is reconnected by regenerative nerve bridges in the hydrogel-filled conduit accompanied by substantial hydrogel degradation within 24 days. At 12 weeks post-surgery, this conduit treatment induces better nerve regeneration and functional recovery than the conventional conduit treatment. This work demonstrates a nanostructured cell-adaptive hydrogel for engineering early regenerative microenvironments, providing a promising biomaterial platform for peripheral nerve repair.
SN - 2590-0064
ER -