Seeta Dewali^*,  Netra Pal Sharma,  Pankaj Bhatt,  Neha Kathayat,  Megha Bhandari,  Deepak Chandra Melkani,  Deepika Goswami,  Suraj Suraj,  Deepak Kumar Arya,  Swetapadma Dash,  Harish Chandra Singh Bisht,  Satpal Singh Bisht

, 0(0): 00029. https://doi.org/10.12336/bmt.25.00029

Biomaterials are engineered substances designed to interact with biological systems for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes. Their inherent properties—including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and structural versatility—have driven major advancements in drug delivery technologies. The global biomaterials market size was estimated at USD 178.0 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15.6% from 2024 to 2030. The growing incidence of musculoskeletal and chronic skeletal disorders is expected to drive demand for biomaterial-based implants, thereby contributing to market expansion. This review critically examines biomaterials, focusing on their classification into biobased, biodegradable, and biocompatible categories and analyzes their physicochemical properties and functional benefits. It highlights their applications in oncology, cardiovascular therapy, neurodegenerative diseases, and vaccination. Key challenges—including immunogenicity, cytotoxicity, and manufacturing complexities—are discussed, emphasizing the need for rigorous evaluation and adaptive regulatory frameworks. The review also explores recent advances in smart biomaterials for precision drug delivery, underscoring their potential to revolutionize personalized medicine through targeted, efficient, and patient-specific therapies.

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Leanne Jane C. Lazaro,  Paul Jhon G. Eugenio,  French James A. Garvida,  Marilou M. Sarong^*

, 0(0): 00056. https://doi.org/10.12336/bmt.25.00056

Curcumin, a potent bioactive compound derived from Curcuma longa, exhibits significant antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, indicating broad applications in the food and agricultural industries. However, its practical utility is constrained by inherently low water solubility, poor bioavailability, and chemical instability when exposed to environmental factors. This study addresses these limitations by nanoencapsulating curcumin within a chitosan-based nanoemulsion, curcumin-loaded chitosan nanoemulsions (CurChiNEM), formulate through an emulsification process followed by ionotropic gelation using sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP). Initial extraction from turmeric yielded 8.29% curcumin, confirmed by a maximum absorption wavelength at 425 nm. Formulation 1 (2.5 mg/mL curcumin concentration) achieved the highest encapsulation efficiency (77.82 ± 1.2%) and resulted in the smallest particle size (664 ± 0.467 nm), determined using ImageJ. Scanning electron microscopy further revealed that the formulate nanoemulsions resulted in smooth, quasi-spherical particles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy further confirmed the effective crosslinking of chitosan to TPP and loading of curcumin. Moreover, the formulated nanoemulsion significantly enhanced curcumin’s stability, retaining 87.56% of its content after 28 days of ambient storage, 77.02% under prolonged ultraviolet light exposure, and approximately 67.71% when subjected to 100°C treatment. In contrast, free curcumin degraded rapidly under identical conditions, exhibiting near-total loss. In vitro release studies conducted at pH 7.4 elucidated a diffusion-controlled release mechanism, optimally described by the Higuchi release kinetics model (R² = 0.9736). These compelling findings affirm the chitosan/TPP nanoemulsion as a highly effective and promising delivery system for substantially enhancing the stability and facilitating the controlled release of curcumin, thereby broadening its potential for diverse applications.

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Arun Unnikrishna Pillai,  Sreeja Rajeswari,  Annie Abraham^*

, 0(0): 00054. https://doi.org/10.12336/bmt.25.00054

Nanoscale metal–organic frameworks have attracted significant attention from the research community due to their tailorable composition and structures, high porosity, and facile surface modification. The development of targeted nanoscale drug delivery systems (DDSs) is important in improving target specificity, reducing side effects, and enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of drugs. At the same time, toxicological studies are crucial in the development and safe use of novel DDSs to eliminate unforeseen health risks. Such analyses investigate nano-biointeractions and evaluate potential cytotoxic, genotoxic, or immunotoxic effects. In this study, we synthesized nano-sized luminescent fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanoparticles through a simple chemical approach. Basic characterization studies of the nanoparticles were performed using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and photoluminescence (PL) analysis. SEM and TEM analysis confirmed the dodecahedral shape of the nanoparticles with an average size of 65–70 nm. The fluorescent emission from FITC-labeled ZIF-8 nanoparticles corresponded to the typical emission of incorporated FITC in the ZIF-8. The PL emission spectrum confirmed the incorporation of FITC into the ZIF-8, thereby offering fluorescence probing of the nanoparticles. In addition, we investigated the in vivo toxicity profile of FITC-labeled ZIF-8 nanoparticles in 6–8-week-old Swiss albino mice to establish safe dosage limits. The results of hematological, biochemical, inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunotoxicity markers, as well as histopathological evaluation, showed no significant toxicity at moderate doses of FITC-labeled ZIF-8 nanoparticles. Thus, FITC-labeled ZIF-8 nanoparticles can be safely employed as a suitable drug delivery platform for in vivo applications, such as in cancer therapy.

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Kewen Zhang,  Yanwen Zhou,  Daixu Wei^*,  Airong Qian^*,  Xiao Lin^*

, 0(0): 00072. https://doi.org/10.12336/bmt.25.00072

Addressing bone defects caused by degenerative diseases, trauma, and cancer through bone tissue engineering remains a significant global health challenge. The osteoinductive properties of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) have become a key therapeutic strategy in bone regeneration. However, the development of biodegradable composites that ensure biocompatibility, stability, efficient BMP2 loading, and controlled release remains unresolved. In this study, we designed PBVHx/soy lecithin (SL)/BMP2 controlled-release microspheres (sB2PM) based on the biodegradable material poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PBVHx), incorporating SL to enable sustained BMP2 delivery and enhance capture. sB2PM microspheres exhibited uniform size (approximately 5 μm) and high BMP2 encapsulation efficiency (80.29%) compared to pure PBVHx-based microspheres (pPM). Due to PBVHx’s biodegradability, BMP2 release was primarily degradation-driven, resulting in a controlled biphasic release profile. sB2PM achieved 62.79% cumulative BMP2 release over four weeks and continued to release BMP2 sustainably thereafter. Co-culturing sB2PM microspheres with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) in a Transwell system showed enhanced cell proliferation, biocompatibility, and collagen secretion. Compared with pPM and B2PM, sB2PM significantly promoted osteogenic differentiation, increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and upregulated osteogenic gene expression in hBMSCs, outperforming commercial hydroxyapatite microspheres. In a mouse hindlimb unloading osteoporosis model, micro computed tomography and histological evaluations confirmed that injectable sB2PM microspheres significantly enhanced bone regeneration, collagen secretion, and ALP and runt-related transcription factor 2 protein expression. This study highlights the potential of sB2PM microspheres with controlled BMP2 release for future bone regeneration therapies.

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Siufui Hendrawan^*,  Olivia Marcelina,  Astheria Eryani,  Erwin Siahaan,  Hans U. Baer

, 0(0): 00041. https://doi.org/10.12336/bmt.25.00041

Present standard treatment for incisional hernia (IH) focuses on wound closure by providing mechanical reinforcement to the affected tissue, generally through the implantation of synthetic polypropylene (PP) mesh. However, PP mesh primarily functions to hold organs in place and does not actively stimulate intrinsic tissue regeneration. Meanwhile, in the aging population and in individuals with pre-existing complications, impaired wound healing and reduced elasticity increase the risk of hernia recurrence. In this study, we developed a three-dimensional cellularized implant with secretome (Sec) supplementation, aiming to promote tissue regeneration and the formation of a more mechanically robust scar in IH repair. The cellularized matrix (Cell/Matrix) was produced by seeding fibroblasts onto a three-dimensional collagen-coated poly-L-lactic acid matrix. Supplementation with Sec derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells was performed to produce the Cell/Matrix+Sec implant. Implantation was performed in the sublay position (between muscle and peritoneal membrane), beneath an incisional cut at the midline abdomen of Wistar rats to mimic IH repair. Rats with no implant (Sham) served as the control group, while others received PP mesh (Mesh), an acellularized matrix (Matrix), Cell/Matrix, and Cell/Matrix+Sec implants. At 2 months post-implantation, abdominal tissue samples extracted from the Cell/Matrix+Sec implant group exhibited the greatest biomechanical strength, accompanied by a higher collagen type I/III ratio, neovascularization count, α-smooth muscle actin-positive vessels, and formation of neuron bundles. Meanwhile, Sham and Mesh groups displayed the lowest values in all parameters, respectively. Despite having lower mechanical strength compared with PP mesh, implantation of the cellularized matrix resulted in better muscle tissue integrity and maturation. Hence, these findings highlight the potential of Cell/Matrix+Sec as a novel adjuvant implant to complement the present standard approach to hernia repair, which lacks regenerative capacities.

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