Controlled Drug Release Research Articles

AI-based prediction of flow dynamics of blood blended with gold and maghemite nanoparticles in an electromagnetic microchannel under abruptly changes in pressure gradient

ABSTRACT In cardiovascular research, electromagnetic fields (EMFs) induced by Riga plates are applied to study and potentially manipulate blood flow dynamics, offering insights for therapies against arterial plaque deposition and for understanding varied blood flow behaviors. This research focuses on predicting the flow patterns of blood infused with gold and maghemite nanoparticles (gold-maghemite/blood) inside an EM microchannel under these electromagnetic influences and abruptly change in pressure gradient. The study models these flows by considering radiation heat emission and Darcy drag forces within porous media. Mathematical representation involves time-variant partial differential equations, resolved through Laplace transform (LT) to yield compact-form expressions for the model variables. The outcomes, including shear stress (SS) and rate of heat transfer (RHT) across the microchannel, are analyzed and displayed graphically, highlighting the effects of modified Hartmann number and electrode width on these parameters. Hybrid nano-blood (HNB) and nano-blood (NB) exhibit distinct thermal characteristics, with HNB transferring more heat within the blood flow. These study implements a cutting-edge AI-powered approach for high-fidelity evaluation of critical flow parameters, achieving unprecedented prediction accuracy. Validation results confirm the algorithm’s excellence, with SS predictions reaching 99.552% (testing) and 97.019% (cross-validation) accuracy, while RHT predictions show 100% testing accuracy and 97.987% cross-validation reliability. This convergence of nanotechnology with advanced machine learning paves the way for transformative clinical applications that could redefine standards of care in surgical oncology, interventional cardiology, and therapeutic radiology. This model underpins potential applications such as controlled drug release and magnetic fluid hyperthermia, enhancing procedures like cardiopulmonary bypass, vascular surgery, and diagnostic imaging.

Assessment of antipsoriatic potential of novel pemetrexed disodium-loaded transdermal patches in an imiquimod-induced mouse model.

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disorder characterized by keratinocyte hyperproliferation, inflammation, and angiogenesis, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Current therapeutic strategies, including topical corticosteroids, phototherapy, and systemic biologics, often present limitations such as adverse effects, high costs, and inadequate skin penetration. Transdermal drug delivery offers a promising alternative by enhancing localized drug bioavailability and minimizing systemic side effects. In this study, we investigated the antipsoriatic potential of pemetrexed disodium, a multitargeted antifolate agent, formulated as a transdermal patch in an imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse model. The patches were prepared using a solvent evaporation technique and optimized for controlled drug release. Mice treated with pemetrexed-loaded transdermal patches exhibited significant dose-dependent reductions in psoriasis severity, as evidenced by improvements in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores, histopathological analysis, and suppression of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6) assessed via qRT-PCR and ELISA. The highest concentration (0.16mg/cm2) demonstrated the most pronounced therapeutic effects, comparable to the standard ketoconazole treatment. These findings highlight the potential of pemetrexed disodium-loaded transdermal patches as an innovative, targeted therapy for psoriasis, warranting further clinical investigations.

Injectable nanocomposite hydrogels for targeted intervention in cancer, wound healing, and bone and myocardial tissue engineering.

Despite current medicine's fast-paced advances, many acute and chronic illnesses still lack truly effective and safe therapies. Cancer treatments often lead to off-target healthy tissue damage and poor therapeutic outcomes, wound standard treatments generally demonstrate poor healing efficacy and increased susceptibility to infection, and bone tissue engineering and myocardial tissue engineering can result in immunological rejection and limited availability. To tackle these issues, injectable hydrogels have emerged, and through the incorporation of nanoparticles, nanocomposite hydrogels have appeared as versatile platforms, offering improved biocompatibility, mechanical strength, stability, and precise controlled drug release, as well as targeted delivery with increased drug retention at the site of action, reducing systemic drug distribution to non-target sites. With the ability to deliver a diverse range of therapeutic entities, including low molecular weight drugs, proteins, antibodies, and even isolated cells, injectable nanocomposite hydrogels have revolutionized current therapies, working as multifunctional platforms capable of improving efficacy and safety in cancer treatment, including in chemotherapy, immunotherapy, photothermal therapy, magnetic hyperthermia, photodynamic therapy, chemodynamic therapy, radiotherapy, molecularly targeted therapy, and after tumor surgical removal, and in general, chronic diabetic or tumor-induced wound healing, as well as in bone tissue engineering and myocardial tissue engineering. This review provides a thorough summary and critical insight of current advances on injectable nanocomposite hydrogels as an innovative approach that could bring substantial contributions to biomedical research and clinical practice, with a focus on their applications in cancer therapy, wound healing management, and tissue engineering.

Molecular Self-Assembly of Peptides into Supramolecular Nanoarchitectures for Target-Specific Drug Delivery.

Self-assembled fluorescent peptides are promising drug-delivery vehicles targeting cancer cells and enhancing the precision of therapeutic agents. Several systems have been developed including fluorescent peptides as cysteine-core peptides, cyclic peptides, nanostructures and peptide polymer conjugates specifically designed for targeted drug delivery. Further, these supramolecular carriers aid in targeted drug transport by using different cargos like doxorubicin (Dox), paclitaxel (PTX), etc. Additionally, dipeptides such as tryptophan-phenylalanine self-assemble via zinc ion chelation, facilitating the endosomal escape thereby enhancing the drug efficacy within multifunctional nanoparticle systems. Furthermore, pH-activatable and enzyme-responsive peptide nanostructures have been engineered to exhibit potential for controlled drug release. These self-assembled peptide systems not only enable targeted drug delivery but also provide controlled release, with applications extending to ocular drug delivery and the treatment of retinal diseases. These systems possess intrinsic fluorescence properties that allow real-time tracking of drug release and cellular uptake, making them highly useful for theranostic applications. Moreover, fluorescently tagged cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are widely used to explore how these systems enter cells, revealing multiple ways they are taken up, like endocytosis, micropinocytosis, direct membrane crossing, and counterion-assisted transport. This versatility adds real value to peptide-based approaches in cancer therapy. Further research advancements should enhance stability, explore combination therapies, and improve clinical translation for broader therapeutic applications.

A doxorubicin-loaded polymeric nanocarrier with 2,2’-binaphthyl-1,1’-diol-based backbone and tannic acid coating for enhanced stability and antitumor applications

This study presents PBVT, a polyurethane-based nano-drug delivery system incorporating BINOL (2,2'-binaphthyl-1,1'-diol), tannic acid (TA), and phenylboronic acid (PBA), to overcome critical challenges in cancer therapy such as low drug-loading capacity, nanoparticle instability, and systemic toxicity. Polyurethane was chosen as the base material due to its exceptional versatility, offering tunable mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and chemical stability, making it ideal for constructing robust nanocarriers for drug delivery. BINOL is incorporated for the first time into a nano polyurethane framework, featuring dual naphthalene rings that enable strong π-π stacking interactions with doxorubicin (DOX), achieving a high drug-loading capacity (48.6%) and encapsulation efficiency (89.8%). TA enhances system stability and biocompatibility through hydrogen bonding, while its phenolic hydroxyl groups provide antioxidant and antibacterial properties, reducing infection risks during chemotherapy. PBA is integrated into the polyurethane backbone adding pH-responsive drug release capabilities, allowing selective and controlled release of DOX in acidic tumor microenvironments. In vitro, cellular experiments confirmed the low cytotoxicity of PBVT against normal cells and the potent anticancer activity of PBVT-DOX in tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner. The system demonstrated sustained drug release and stability for over two weeks under physiological conditions. PBVT-DOX represents a novel, efficient platform for targeted cancer therapy and the development of advanced polyurethane-based nanomaterials for biomedical applications.

Innovative hydrogels in cutaneous wound healing: current status and future perspectives

Chronic wounds pose a substantial burden on healthcare systems, necessitating innovative tissue engineering strategies to enhance clinical outcomes. Hydrogels, both of natural and synthetic origin, have emerged as versatile biomaterials for wound management due to their structural adaptability, biocompatibility, and tunable physicochemical properties. Their hydrophilic nature enables efficient nutrient transport, waste removal, and cellular integration, while their malleability facilitates application to deep and irregular wounds, providing an optimal microenvironment for cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Extracellular matrix (ECM)- based hydrogels retain bioactive molecules that support cellular infiltration, immune modulation, and tissue remodelling, making them highly effective scaffolds for growth factor delivery and regenerative therapies. Additionally, their injectability and potential for in situ polymerization enable minimally invasive applications, allowing on-demand gelation at target sites. By modifying their mechanical properties through crosslinking, hydrogels can achieve enhanced structural stability, prolonged degradation control, and improved surgical handling, optimizing their functionality in dynamic wound environments. This review outlines current approaches to skin tissue engineering, examining the biomaterials employed in hydrogel design, their limitations, and their interactions with host tissues. Furthermore, it highlights the emerging potential of functionalized injectable hydrogels, particularly those engineered for controlled drug release, enhanced bioactivity, and patient-specific therapeutic applications. These hydrogels offer a transformative platform for advanced wound care and regenerative medicine.

Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Cassava Starch-Based Scaffold Biofunctionalized with Decellularized Extracellular Matrix and Isosorbide Dinitrate

This study aimed to synthesize and characterize cassava starch-based (S) scaffolds functionalized with decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) and isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) for wound healing. The scaffolds were synthesized via the casting method and evaluated for physicochemical, mechanical, and morphological properties, as well as ISDN release and hemocompatibility. Swelling and degradation tests revealed a biphasic behavior, with high water absorption followed by controlled degradation. The ISDN release followed a biphasic pattern, fitting the Korsmeyer–Peppas model. Hemolysis tests confirmed biocompatibility, with hemolysis levels below 2%. Among the formulations, the scaffold containing 12.5% ECM and 40 mg ISDN exhibited optimal mechanical stability, controlled drug release, and biocompatibility. These findings suggest that starch/ECM/ISDN scaffolds hold potential for wound healing applications. Further studies should focus on in vivo evaluation and cytotoxicity assessments to confirm their clinical applicability.

Polymer-grafted porous silicon nanoparticles for enhanced siRNA delivery

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) shows promise for cancer treatment but faces biological barriers limiting its effective clinical use. To overcome these limitations and enhance siRNA’s therapeutic potential, innovative drug delivery systems are needed. Porous silicon nanoparticles (pSiNPs) are an attractive drug delivery system due to their high surface area, biodegradability, and tuneable porosity, although challenges with uncontrolled degradation, limited circulation time, and inefficient drug release remain. To address these limitations, we explored surface-initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerisation to modify pSiNPs with poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) and poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (POEGA). PDMAEMA, an ionisable polymer with tertiary amine groups, is protonated at physiological pH and facilitates strong electrostatic interactions with negatively charged siRNA, leading to an siRNA loading capacity up to 438 ± 21 μg/mg, but resulted in burst release. The addition of the outer POEGA block, with its hydrophilic and neutral properties, resulted in a similar loading efficiency and enabled a more controlled biphasic drug release kinetics, although it reduced cellular association. Both systems successfully protected the siRNA from RNAse degradation, showed good cytocompatibility, and successful delivered siRNA targeting polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1). These results suggest that these polymer-coated pSiNPs offer a promising approach for siRNA delivery and gene therapy.

Nanogel-based delivery of dequalinium chloride: A novel approach for antimicrobial and controlled drug release.

Dequalinium chloride (DQC) is a potent antimicrobial agent; however, its therapeutic application is limited due to poor solubility, rapid degradation, and short half-life. In this study, we developed a nanogel-based delivery system to provide stability, bioavailability, and controlled release of DQC, subsequently improving antimicrobial impact. Carbopol 940 and PEG 6000 were used for the synthesis of the nanogel, which was characterized for physicochemical properties, drug entrapment, and release kinetics. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) confirmed the successful encapsulation and amorphous nature, whereas Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) validated improved thermal stability. The nanogel showed a high entrapment efficiency of 90%, and the drug was released sustained according to a non-Fickian diffusion mechanism with 86.23% cumulative release in 24h. As per antimicrobial activity, it was observed that the developed formulation showed better inhibition against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus than free drug solutions. Thus, the findings indicate that the developed nanogel formulation can be considered a worthy advanced antimicrobial delivery system with controlled drug release.

Unveiling the Future: Opportunities in Long-Acting Injectable Drug Development for Veterinary Care

Long-acting injectable (LAI) formulations have revolutionized veterinary pharmaceuticals by improving patient compliance, minimizing dosage frequency, and improving therapeutic efficacy. These formulations utilize advanced drug delivery technologies, including microspheres, liposomes, oil solutions/suspensions, in situ-forming gels, and implants to achieve extended drug release. Biodegradable polymers such as poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and polycaprolactone (PCL) have been approved by the USFDA and are widely employed in the development of various LAIs, offering controlled drug release and minimizing the side effects. Various classes of veterinary medicines, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, and reproductive hormones, have been successfully formulated as LAIs. Some remarkable LAI products, such as ProHeart® (moxidectin), Excede® (ceftiofur), and POSILACTM (recombinant bovine somatotropin), show clinical relevance and commercial success. This review provides comprehensive information on the formulation strategies currently being used and the emerging technologies in LAIs for veterinary purposes. Additionally, challenges in characterization, in vitro testing, in vitro in vivo correlation (IVIVC), and safety concerns regarding biocompatibility are discussed, along with the prospects for next-generation LAIs. Continued advancement in the field of LAI in veterinary medicine is essential for improving animal health.

Design and Characterization of Metformin Hydrochloride Microbeads using the Ionotropic Gelation Technique

Microbeads containing Metformin Hydrochloride were effectively developed using the ionotropic gelation technique, employing sodium alginate as the polymer matrix and calcium chloride (CaCl2) as the cross-linking agent. This study aimed to develop Metformin HCl microbeads for controlled drug release, improved therapeutic efficacy, and enhanced bioavailability. Microbeads encapsulating Metformin Hydrochloride were formulated through extruding a blend of sodium alginate and Metformin HCl through a 22-gauge needle was used to introduce the solution into a calcium chloride bath, initiating ionotropic gelation. The resulting microbeads were characterized for various physicochemical properties, including Product yield, active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) content, and drug release behavior under in vitro conditions. Preformulation studies characterized the drug, evaluating Sensory characteristics, melting point determination, solubility profile, bulk and tapped density measurements, flow property assessment via angle of repose, and structural analysis using FTIR spectroscopy. An analytical method using UV-visible spectroscopy at 234nm was developed for Metformin HCl quantification. The prepared microbeads exhibited [Insert key findings here, e.g., a spherical shape and a yield of X%]. Drug content analysis revealed [Insert drug content percentage here, e.g., a drug loading of Y%]. "In vitro drug release studies revealed a sustained release pattern of Metformin HCl, extending over a period of 12 hours, indicating the formulation's potential for prolonged therapeutic action. These results suggest that the ionotropic gelation method is a suitable technique for preparing Metformin HCl microbeads with controlled release characteristics; this could potentially enhance its therapeutic effectiveness and bioavailability. Additional research is needed to [Mention future research directions, e.g., investigate the in vivo performance of the microbeads].

Biodegradable gelatin methacryloyl microneedles: a new paradigm in transdermal drug delivery.

Microneedles (MN) have emerged as a promising transdermal drug delivery technology that offers advantages such as minimal invasiveness, high biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)-based MNs have gained attention because of their flexibility, mechanical strength, and modification capabilities, which support controlled drug release. The synthesis process of GelMA involves crosslinking using UV light, resulting in a stable hydrogel structure that supports therapeutic applications, such as wound healing, cancer therapy, and glucose monitoring. However, challenges such as skin penetration strength, drug-loading capacity, and regulatory standards still require solutions. Material and design innovations, particularly the combination of GelMA with nanomaterials and natural polymers, have the potential to enhance the MN efficiency and expand its applications in various medical fields. This review explores the latest developments in GelMA-based MN design and their future potential as reliable therapeutic devices.

Development of Smart pH-Sensitive Collagen-Hydroxyethylcellulose Films with Naproxen for Burn Wound Healing

Background: Developing versatile dressings that offer wound protection, maintain a moist environment, and facilitate healing represents an important therapeutic approach for burn patients. Objectives: This study presents the development of new smart pH-sensitive collagen-hydroxyethylcellulose films, incorporating naproxen and phenol red, designed to provide controlled drug release while enabling real-time pH monitoring for burn care. Methods: Biopolymeric films were prepared by the solvent-casting method using ethanol and glycerol as plasticizers. Results: Orange-colored films were thin, flexible, and easily peelable, with uniform, smooth, and nonporous morphology. Tensile strength varied from 0.61 N/mm2 to 3.33 N/mm2, indicating improved mechanical properties with increasing collagen content, while wetting analysis indicated a hydrophilic surface with contact angle values between 17.61° and 75.51°. Maximum swelling occurred at pH 7.4, ranging from 5.65 g/g to 9.20 g/g and pH 8.5, with values from 4.74 g/g to 7.92 g/g, suggesting effective exudate absorption. In vitro degradation proved structural stability maintenance for at least one day, with more than 40% weight loss. Films presented a biphasic naproxen release profile with more than 75% of the drug released after 24 h, properly managing inflammation and pain on the first-day post-burn. The pH variation mimicking the stages of the healing process demonstrated the color transition from yellow (pH 5.5) to orange (pH 7.4) and finally to bright fuchsia (pH 8.5), enabling easy visual evaluation of the wound environment. Conclusions: New multifunctional films combine diagnostic and therapeutic functions, providing a promising platform for monitoring wound healing, making them suitable for real-time wound assessment.

Refillable Intraocular Drug-Eluting Implant.

The increasing incidence of ophthalmic diseases has led the need for multiple dosage regimens, which can cause patient discomfort and noncompliance due to the frequency of medication administration. Still, ophthalmic drug delivery methods, such as eye drops and intravitreal injection, pose challenges, such as poor bioavailability, short half-life, and patient compliance. In this study, we introduce a novel refillable intracapsular drug-eluting reservoir for the long-term management of ocular diseases. This device, made of medical-grade silicone and stainless steel, has features to contour the lens capsule to facilitate microincisional implantation. Rheological and mechanical analyses of the silicone revealed the optimized conditions for the device construction and its application compliance for ocular intracapsular implantation. Furthermore, in vitro release studies exhibit controlled drug release, the kinetics of which were along with Fickian diffusion, while ex vivo implantation testing shows that the device can be easily delivered and placed at the time of cataract surgery. Taken altogether, the developed implant holds significant potential for improving therapeutic outcomes while offering a practical surgical application and compliance of patients.

AI-Assisted Design and Biochemical Optimization of Protein Structures for Enhanced Drug Delivery in Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy remains the primary treatment for most malignancies; nevertheless, it is troubled by a handful of hindrances like non-specificity of the drug targeting agents, side effects, or actual drug resistance. Thus, protein engineering could be the answer to these problems by designing proteins capable of specific targeting of cancer cells, reducing unwanted drug toxicity, or carrying out controlled drug release. AI, in this regard, encompasses protein structure optimization for accelerated drug delivery and enhancement of the therapeutic efficacy. The present paper looks at AI utilization in protein engineering for drug delivery systems and its influence on chemotherapy, together with the possibility of using these innovations to combat existing challenges and enhance patient outcome.

Formulation and Evaluation of Bosentan Monohydrate-loaded Liposome-based Dissolving Microneedle Array Patches

Background Pulmonary arterial hypertension is controlled by the dual endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan monohydrate. Recent advances in microneedle technology offer controlled, prolonged drug release. Purpose This study formulated and evaluated a bosentan monohydrate-loaded liposome-based dissolved microneedles (MNs) array patch. Methods Bosentan monohydrate liposomes were prepared using the ethanol injection method and incorporated into microneedle patches. The dissolving microneedles (DMNs) were prepared by using a two-step casting method. The first 3D computer-aided design (CAD)-designed master mold for the MNs was fabricated using SLA 3D printing and replicated using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The mold was filled with a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-K30), PEG-400, and bosentan-loaded liposomes, then centrifuged and dried. Optimization using response surface methodology (RSM) focused on particle size, zeta potential (ZP), and entrapment efficiency (EE). Results The optimized liposomes had an average size of 238.06 nm, a ZP of −34.33 mV, and an EE of 75.3%. Morphological analyses via microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed spherical liposomes with smooth surfaces. Drug release studies indicated a controlled release over time, reaching approximately 90% cumulative drug release (CDR) at 600 min. Kinetic modeling showed a zero-order release pattern. Mechanical testing of the MNs demonstrated a fracture point at 0.42 N, ensuring adequate strength for skin penetration. Ex vivo tests on rat skin confirmed nearly 100% penetration of the 15 × 15 microneedle array. Conclusion The study concludes that the optimized formulation of liposomal-loaded DMNs is easy to administer, non-invasive, and biodegradable, offering a promising approach for controlled drug release in managing pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Beta‐glucan modification and incorporation of peptide for infected wound healing applications

AbstractHydrogel dressings, known for their breathability and hygroscopic properties, have garnered significant attention in the field of bioactive wound care. Among them, hydrogels composed of polysaccharides and peptides offer superior biocompatibility, intrinsic antibacterial properties, and the ability to mimic the extracellular matrix. In this study, we developed hybrid hydrogels, BAA/C8G2, BAA/G3, and BAA/c(KW), by crosslinking immunomodulatory β‐glucan derivatives with antimicrobial peptides via enamine bonds. These hydrogels exhibited enhanced mechanical strength compared to those crosslinked with oxidized β‐glucan through imine bonding, alongside pH responsiveness and controlled drug release behavior. The hydrogels demonstrate broad‐spectrum antibacterial activity against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, including methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and maintain sustained inhibition of Escherichia coli for over 10 days. Furthermore, they displayed excellent in vitro biocompatibility and effectively promoted fibroblast cell migration. The results highlight the potential of enamine‐linked polysaccharide–peptide hybrid hydrogels as promising candidates for bacterial‐infected wound treatment.Highlights Acetoacetyl β‐glucan crosslinked with AMPs via dynamic enamine bonds. The BAA‐peptide hydrogels demonstrated improved mechanical properties. The pH‐responsive enamine bonds enabled controlled release of AMPs. The hydrogels exhibited sustained antibacterial activity. The hydrogels are biocompatible and promote cell migration.

Capillary-Driven 3D Open Fluidic Networks for Versatile Continuous Flow Manipulation.

Human civilization hinges on the capability to manipulate continuous flows. However, continuous flows are often regulated in closed-pipe configurations to address their instability, isolating the flows from the environment and considerably restricting their functionality. Manipulating continuous flows in open systems remains challenging. Here, capillary-driven 3D open fluidic networks (OFNs) composed of connected polyhedral frames are reported. Each frame acts as a fluid chamber with free interfaces that enable fluid entry and exit; the connecting rods function as valves, allowing precise control over the direction, velocity, and path of the flow. The OFNs seamlessly adapt to various fluid systems, enabling precise 3D manipulation of multiple flows. Leveraging these distinctive features, a series of applications, including selective metallization, programmable mixing and diagnostics, and spatiotemporal control of multi-step reactions, are achieved. The OFNs' free fluid interfaces also facilitate controlled drug release and efficient heat exchange. These versatile OFNs will significantly advance technological innovations in engineering, microfluidics, interfacial chemistry, and biomedicine.

Chitosan Hydrogel Equipped With Hollow Copper Sulfide/Polydopamine Nanoparticles for Near‐Infrared/pH Dual‐Responsive Drug Delivery

ABSTRACTIn recent years, the remotely multi‐responsive chitosan (CS) hydrogel has been garnering extensive attention owing to its remarkable potential in biomedical applications. Meanwhile, it presents a wide range of uses in the realm of controlled drug delivery and photothermal chemical combination therapy. In this paper, the CS/β‐glycerophosphate disodium salt (β‐GP) physical crosslinked network was employed as the framework to encapsulate near‐infrared (NIR) responsive hollow copper sulfide (CuS)/polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles, and the NIR/pH synergistic responsive CS/CuS/PDA hydrogel was fabricated. The negatively charged β‐GP, along with the hollow CuS/PDA nanoparticles, played a key role in promoting the creation of abundant electronegative cavities. As a result, the hybrid hydrogel achieved an impressively high DOX loading rate, reaching up to 95.5%. The CS/CuS/PDA hydrogel exhibits excellent pH responsiveness, which could be attributed to the disintegration of the CS/β‐GP network under acidic buffer solution. In addition, hollow CuS/PDA nanoparticles embedded in the hydrogel endow the hydrogel with excellent NIR photothermal responsiveness, which significantly promotes the release of DOX. Consequently, the CS/CuS/PDA hydrogel reveals excellent synergistically enhanced NIR, pH, and thermal triple‐responsiveness, indicating its tremendous promise in the field of controlled drug release.

Conductive Antibacterial Silk Sutures for Combating Surgical Site Infections via Electrically Controlled Drug Release.

Current antibacterial sutures for preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) face challenges including suboptimal drug utilization efficiency and uncontrolled burst release. To address these limitations, an antibacterial conductive suture with an electrically controlled drug release system is developed in this study. Polypyrrole (PPy) doped with tannic acid (TA) is in situ polymerized on the surface of silk sutures precoated with chitosan/gelatin (CS/GE), designated as PCG-SS. The PCG-SS exhibits excellent conductivity, enabling voltage-dependent regulation of TA release. At -0.6V applied potential, PPy underwent electrochemical reduction with decreased positive charge density, enabling maximal TA release; conversely, at +0.4V, PPy attained an oxidized state with enhanced positive charges, strengthening electrostatic adsorption of anionic TA and achieving 80% suppression of drug elution. Under -0.6V stimulation, the antibacterial rates of PCG-SS against S. aureus and E. coli exceeded 90%. This work successfully validated that a PPy-based drug-controlled release system can effectively formulate drug release programs, providing new insights into the study of electronically controlled drug delivery systems.