Dual-functional flexible sensor based on CNCs nanocomposite hydrogels for sweat analysis and human motion monitoring

In vitro cytocompatibility and molecular docking studies of a pectin-Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite hydrogel for enhanced diabetic wound healing

PCA: A tFNA-based targeted nucleic acid nanocomposite hydrogel for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia through the promotion of angiogenesis and hair follicle stem cell proliferation

The inherent trade-off between toughness and stretchability in conventional hydrogels restricts their utility in demanding structural and engineering scenarios. Here, we address this limitation by designing a nanocomposite hydrogel with densified, interfacially bridged network architecture, comprising uniformly dispersed aminopropyl-hybrid-phyllosilicate (AHPS) nanosheets within a polyacrylamide (PAM) matrix. A dynamic hydrogen-bonding network between AHPS and PAM enables efficient energy dissipation during deformation, imparting the material with exceptional mechanical performance. The optimized nanocomposite (3 wt.% AHPS) achieves a toughness of 6.91MJ/m3-a 173-fold enhancement compared to pristine PAM-and an elongation at break of 3390%, representing a 31-fold improvement over the unreinforced hydrogel. Furthermore, the reversible breakage and reformation of hydrogen bonds endow the AHPS/PAM hydrogel with outstanding self-recovery capabilities, retaining structural integrity over repeated stress-strain cycles. By synergizing a nanoscale interfacial bridging with dynamic hydrogen bonding, this strategy unlocks unprecedented combinations of toughness, stretchability, and resilience, suggesting strong potential as a mechanically robust platform for soft robotics and flexible material systems.

To address the coupled impairment of osteogenesis and angiogenesis in osteoporosis, we developed a synergistic two-factor delivery strategy based on photo-cross-linked nanocomposite hydrogels (nSZCSG). This system innovatively integrates simvastatin (SIM) loaded zeolite imidazolate skeleton-8 (ZIF-8) nanoparticles into a methacrylated chitosan-gelatin matrix, endowing the material with controllable mechanical properties and a long-lasting local bioactive factor reservoir. The key breakthrough lies in the synergistic sustained release of Zn2+ and simvastatin by the ZIF-8 vector, which enables the hydrogel to simultaneously regulate three major regeneration processes: powerful cell recruitment, efficient osteogenesis, and enhanced angiogenesis. This system thus effectively coordinates the "osteogenic-angiogenic coupling" that is often disrupted in the osteoporotic environment and significantly accelerates angiogenic bone regeneration under osteoporotic conditions in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. This study proposes an efficient biomaterial strategy that achieves a breakthrough in the traditional single-factor delivery model by collaboratively targeting multiple pathological dimensions of osteoporotic bone defects.

Wound healing is a complex biological process consisting of four key phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. While acute wounds typically heal without complications, chronic wounds present a major healthcare concern due to persistent infections, poor drug delivery, and delayed tissue regeneration. Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing wound care by improving drug delivery, reducing microbial load, and supporting tissue repair. This review highlights the application of various nanocarriers, including liposomes, niosomes, hydrogels, and solid lipid nanoparticles, for wound management. These systems enhance drug retention at the wound site, control release profiles, and promote cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Many also exhibit antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, making them suitable for chronic wound treatment. The integration of phytochemical-based compounds into nanosystems is discussed, offering sustainable, biocompatible, and cost-effective approaches. Hybrid platforms, such as nanocomposite hydrogels and bioactive nanoparticles, are presented for their improved healing outcomes and multifunctional performance. Furthermore, the review includes recent patents to reflect technological advancements and innovation in this field. Despite promising developments, challenges such as scalability, cost, and regulatory considerations remain. Future research should focus on improving the design, safety, and accessibility of nanotechnology-based wound therapies.

Industrial effluents containing dyes such as crystal violet (CV) have adverse environmental effects due to their chemical inertness, toxicity and nonbiodegradability. Conventional separation techniques used to remove these pollutants are often inefficient; however, photocatalytic degradation using hydrogel photocatalysts is an effective and sustainable approach for wastewater treatment. CuO and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully synthesized via a common co-precipitation method. The prepared metal oxide NPs were then incorporated into the hydrogel matrix to form hydrogel nanocomposites. For hydrogel preparation, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used as a polymer, acrylic amide (Am) and butyl acrylate (BA) were used as monomers, and ammonium persulphate (APS) was used as an initiator. The successful fabrication of the hydrogel nanocomposite was verified using FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. From FTIR spectroscopy data, the interaction and cross-linking of monomers and the polymer matrix were confirmed. The average crystallite size and uniform incorporation of metal oxide NPs into the hydrogel network were studied using XRD parameters. SEM images showed that after the integration of spherical-shaped metal oxide NPs into the hydrogel network, the surface of the hydrogel nanocomposite became rough and stratified, and the BET results indicated that the specific surface areas of ZnO- and CuO-doped hydrogel composites were 4.0835 cm2 g−1 and 4.9142 cm2 g−1, respectively. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized hydrogel nanocomposites was investigated using an initial crystal violet (CV) concentration of 5 ppm to evaluate their degradation efficiency under visible light irradiation. The results showed that within an irradiation time of 110 min, the photocatalytic removal efficiency of CV reached 92.86% for the ZnO-doped hydrogel nanocomposite and 94.21% for the CuO-doped hydrogel nanocomposite at pH 9 using 0.01 g of the photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic activity followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with rate constants of 0.0154 min−1 and 0.0148 min−1 for CuO- and ZnO-doped hydrogel nanocomposites, respectively. Furthermore, scavenging experiments showed that ˙OH radicals were the prominent species responsible for the degradation of CV. In this study, metal oxide-doped hydrogel nanocomposites were explored as sustainable and efficient photocatalysts for environmental remediation. The synthesized materials exhibited promising efficacy for the treatment of dye-contaminated wastewater.

Ultrasound-guided nanocomposite hydrogel injection to enhance nerve repair via temporal delivery of a colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor.

Halloysite and Zn2+-crosslinked gelatin/polyamidoxime-based hydrogel with immunoregulatory and antibacterial properties for promoting wound healing.

Development of a next-generation closed-loop precision system: multiscale-engineered nanocomposite hydrogel microneedles

Biomineralized self-assembled peptide metallo-hydrogels: Enhanced stability, mechanical properties, and mild-temperature photothermal effects facilitate controlled drug release and combined tumor therapy.

Development of zinc oxide-charcoal-polyacrylic nanocomposite hydrogels for enhanced dye degradation under direct sunlight irradiation and antibacterial applications

An all-natural tannic acid@FeS2 hybrid hydrogel with synergistic photothermal/chemotherapy for infected wound healing.

Development of pH-responsive nanocomposite hydrogels based on chitosan and acrylic acid for controlled drug delivery of metformin: A comparative study on the role of physically and chemically bonded graphene oxide on the hydrogel's performance

Alginate-based nanocomposite hydrogel beads incorporating graphene oxide and magnetic CoMnFeO₄ nanoparticles for pirimicarb adsorption.

Polyethyleneimine hydrogel-silica composite with embedded silver nanoparticles as a multifunctional stationary phase for HPLC.

Smart hydrogels embedding mesenchymal stromal cells are receiving increasing attention as a potential solution for preventing articular cartilage degeneration in knee osteoarthritis (OA). In this work we demonstrate that an injectable piezoelectric hydrogel embedding autologous adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASCs), stimulated by low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), is effective in reducing knee OA in two preclinical surgically induced OA models. A medium-sized rabbit model was used to evaluate sex differences in treatment efficacy, while a large-sized sheep model was employed to assess the translatability of this innovative approach to a scenario with similarities to human conditions. We developed computational models to ensure reliable and precise delivery of a specific ultrasound dose to the target, modelling wave propagation through tissues and considering the anatomy of the two experimental animal models. Sex-based differences in therapy effectiveness were observed in rabbits, with better macroscopic and microscopic outcomes in counteracting OA in female animals. Furthermore, we found that the combination of ASC-laden piezoelectric hydrogel and LIPUS can be scaled in a large-sized sheep model, proving effective in counteracting OA.

Enzymatically crosslinked pectin-silk fibroin hydrogel with embedded ZnO@Gallic acid nanoparticles: An injectable, self-healing, and antibacterial wound dressing.

Green Engineering of Reduced Graphene Oxide-MXene Nanocomposite Hydrogel for Sustainable and Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Immunodetection of CYFRA21-1

Synthesis and characterization of chitosan/gelatin/g-C3N4 hydrogel nanocomposite modified with Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles as a curcumin drug carrier; cytotoxicity and antibacterial evaluation.