Biomaterials articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    Assembly of amyloids is important in neurodegenerative diseases, but there is limited understanding of how supramolecular chirality is controlled. Here, the authors report the design of peptide derivatives that allow chirality inversion at biologically relevant temperatures.

    • Stephen J. Klawa
    • , Michelle Lee
    •  & Ronit Freeman

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The efficacy of drug-eluting stents remains limited due to delayed reendothelialization, impaired intimal remodeling, and potentially increased late restenosis. Here the authors propose a one-produces-multi stent coating, a drug-free strategy that supports in situ healing of vascular tissues, as demonstrated in rabbit and porcine models.

    • Haoshuang Wu
    • , Li Yang
    •  & Yunbing Wang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Adipose stem cells are promising therapeutic agents in tissue regeneration. Here the authors develop a lipid nanoparticle/RNA engineering platform to enhance the protein production of these cells, which demonstrate superior healing efficacy in a mouse model of diabetic cutaneous wounds.

    • Yonger Xue
    • , Yuebao Zhang
    •  & Yizhou Dong

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Toxic amyloid-beta plaque and harmful inflammation are two leading hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and precise AD therapy is elusive due to the lack of dual-targeting therapy function, limited blood-brain barrier penetration, and low imaging sensitivity. Here, the authors address these issues by designing a near-infrared-II aggregation-induced emission nanotheranostic for precise AD therapy.

    • Jiefei Wang
    • , Ping Shangguan
    •  & Ben Zhong Tang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Native spider silk has desirable mechanical properties, but these are challenging to replicate in an artificial material. Here, the authors report the use of a microfluidic system to create continuous fibers based on recombinant spidroin.

    • Jianming Chen
    • , Arata Tsuchida
    •  & Keiji Numata

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Organic neural implants hold considerable promise for biocompatible neural interfaces. Here, the authors employ polymer-based organic electrochemical diodes and transistors to develop neuron-sized complex circuits, enabling multiplexing without crosstalk and demonstrate that, when integrated onto ultra-thin plastic, these circuits achieve high performance while maintaining minimal invasiveness.

    • Ilke Uguz
    • , David Ohayon
    •  & Kenneth L. Shepard

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Microneedle patches that can actively address individual needles are challenging to realize. Here, the authors introduce a spatiotemporal on-demand patch for precise and personalized drug delivery, utilizing electrically triggered control with drug-loaded microneedles and biocompatible metallic membranes.

    • Yihang Wang
    • , Zeka Chen
    •  & Wubin Bai

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Prelithiation can introduce controllable amounts of lithium within porous silicon, however it yields a highly reactive material unsuitable for biomedicine. In this study, the authors present a strategy to lithiate porous silicon nanowires, resulting in a biocompatible and bioresorbable material.

    • Martti Kaasalainen
    • , Ran Zhang
    •  & Ciro Chiappini

  • Article
    | Open Access

    In vivo manipulation of the dynamics of nanoparticles’ is essential for disease-specific imaging and therapy, but tends to involve complex design processes. Here, the authors report a strategy for manipulating the assembly of nanoparticles in vivo through a self-catalysis-instructed dimerization of tyrosine, offering convenient fabrication, high reaction specificity and biocompatibility.

    • Mengmeng Xia
    • , Qiyue Wang
    •  & Daishun Ling

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The poor tumour delivery efficacy of GPX4 inhibitor has dampened its in vivo therapeutic value. Here the authors report a peptide ferriporphyrin conjugate to improve tumour penetration, endocytosis and GPX4 inhibition, synergistically enhancing its anticancer activity by ferroptosis.

    • Da-Yong Hou
    • , Dong-Bing Cheng
    •  & Hao Wang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Sponges, being early-diverging metazoans and the only animals to develop extensive skeletons of silica, have potential to inform about the evolutionary steps of metazoan traits, including biomineralization. Here, the authors characterize two proteins associated with the hexactinellid sponge silica.

    • Katsuhiko Shimizu
    • , Michika Nishi
    •  & Manuel Maldonado

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Protein corona is crucial for the safety and efficacy of nanomedicines, and the protein composition of the corona layer is typically analysed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Here the authors report that the use of a uniform database search provides an opportunity for taking measures in good practice and quality control in protein corona research using mass spectroscopy technique.

    • Hassan Gharibi
    • , Ali Akbar Ashkarran
    •  & Morteza Mahmoudi

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Membrane-decorated nanomedicines often suffer from reduced efficacy caused by membrane artefacts during the coating process. Here the authors show that intracellularly gelated macrophages preserve membrane properties, stay stable under ambient temperature, and show therapeutic effects in murine models of joint and lung inflammation.

    • Cheng Gao
    • , Qingfu Wang
    •  & Ruibing Wang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Soft robots have potential in carrying out underwater tasks, but achieving the right level of adhesion and shape-changing ability is challenging. Here, the authors report the development of protein-based hydrogels with iron oxide nanoparticles with photothermal and magnetic responsiveness, capable of carrying out complex tasks.

    • Sheng-Chen Huang
    • , Ya-Jiao Zhu
    •  & Zhi-Gang Qian

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The inorganic minerals are believed to exert a critical catalytic role in the prebiotic time, but biominerals (e.g., bones) in modern living organisms are known mainly for their physical property-related functions. Here the authors identify natural ferritin iron core as a superoxide dismutase-like nanozyme exhibiting species-related activity and elucidate its specific catalytic mechanism.

    • Long Ma
    • , Jia-Jia Zheng
    •  & Kelong Fan

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Achieving organoleptic properties of conventional meat is important for cultured meat production. Here, the authors demonstrate that the texture, flavor, and nutritional content of cultured meat can be significantly enhanced by regulating cell differentiation inside hydrogel scaffolds.

    • Milae Lee
    • , Sohyeon Park
    •  & Jinkee Hong

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Although artificial skins can facilitate the healing of damaged skin, the restoration of tactile functions remain a challenge. Here, Kang et al. report an artificial skin with an implantable tactile sensor that can simultaneously replace the tactile function by nerve stimulation and promote skin regeneration.

    • Kyowon Kang
    • , Seongryeol Ye
    •  & Youngmee Jung

  • Article
    | Open Access

    No preventive treatment addresses the underlying condition that leads to cardiac arrest. Here, researchers developed an injectable hydrogel electrode that achieves pacing that mimics physiological conduction with the potential to eliminate lethal arrhythmias and provide painless defibrillation.

    • Gabriel J. Rodriguez-Rivera
    • , Allison Post
    •  & Elizabeth Cosgriff-Hernandez

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Iridium-based photosensitizers exhibit good photocatalytic performance, but the in vivo applications are hindered by conventional O2-dependent Type-II photochemistry and poor absorption. Here, the authors report a general metallopolymerization strategy for engineering iridium complexes exhibiting Type-I photochemistry and enhancing absorption intensity in the blue to near-infrared region.

    • Zhao Zhang
    • , Zixiang Wei
    •  & Xuanjun Zhang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The mechanism of calcium carbonate formation has been of interest for decades, but additive-controlled systems are poorly understood. Here the authors show that polycarboxylates facilitate bicarbonate entrapment and thereby inhibit nucleation. Distinct water environments in amorphous calcium carbonate nanoparticles arise from colloidal formation pathways and lead to mineral conductivity.

    • Maxim B. Gindele
    • , Sanjay Vinod-Kumar
    •  & Guinevere Mathies

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Precise coupling of different or even contradictory material properties and biological characteristics is needed for tissue engineering but challenging. Here the authors report an all-in-one guided bone regeneration membrane that asymmetrically combines stiffness and flexibility, ingrowth barrier and ingrowth guiding, alongside anti-bacteria and cell-activation.

    • Shuyi Wu
    • , Shulu Luo
    •  & Yan Li

  • Article
    | Open Access

    With redox-linked synthetic biology and electrobiofabrication, electronic information can be transmitted in a bidirectional manner between biology and electronics. Here the authors design an electrogenetic platform that allows real time electronic control of biological functions from proteins and gene circuits to cell consortia.

    • Sally Wang
    • , Chen-Yu Chen
    •  & William E. Bentley

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The spread of many infectious diseases substantially relies on aerosol transmission to the respiratory tract. Here, the authors design an intranasal mask with the ability to intercept viral aerosols, entrap and inactivate virus, thus preventing respiratory tract infection.

    • Xiaoming Hu
    • , Shuang Wang
    •  & Wei Wei

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Neurostimulators are often bulky and uncomfortable. Researchers report a wireless, leadless, and battery-free ultrasound receiver that wraps around the target peripheral nerve and allows precise modulation of organ function, providing a framework for future bioelectronic medicines

    • Tong Li
    • , Zhidong Wei
    •  & Zhang-Qi Feng

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Mineralization is common in biological materials for selective strengthening, but similar toughening in polymer composites is challenging. Here, the authors report a mechanically-mediated reaction for formation of mineralized microrods within a synthetic material.

    • Jorge Ayarza
    • , Jun Wang
    •  & Aaron P. Esser-Kahn

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Most proteins mediating biomineralization in nature are not well structured, and the structures of the relevant protein-mineral interfaces regulating mineralization are elusive. Here, the authors computationally design proteins that modulate calcium carbonate mineralization to generate hybrid materials and elucidate the roles of designed proteins in controlling mineralization.

    • Fatima A. Davila-Hernandez
    • , Biao Jin
    •  & David Baker

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is hampered by the lack of effective blood–brain barrier (BBB) traversing drugs. Here, the authors report nanozyme-integrated metal-organic frameworks with antioxidant activity and chiral-dependent BBB transendocytosis as anti-neuroinflammatory agents for PD treatment.

    • Wei Jiang
    • , Qing Li
    •  & Kelong Fan

  • Article
    | Open Access

    β-actin and γ-actin are nearly identical, and yet incorporate into different cytoskeletal structures. Here, the authors create isoform-pure reconstituted networks and study their structural and mechanical differences, underscoring the significance of the isoforms in diverse cellular functions.

    • Peter Nietmann
    • , Kevin Kaub
    •  & Andreas Janshoff

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The structure of vaterite has been debated for a century. Combining systematic TEM characterisations, crystallographic analysis, and machine learning aided molecular dynamics simulations, the authors unlock the structural mystery in vaterite.

    • Xingyuan San
    • , Junwei Hu
    •  & Xiaobing Hu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Ice formation on grooved surfaces is ubiquitous, but controlling orientation is difficult due to lack of mechanistic insight. Here, the authors observed oriented growth using graphene oxide nanosheets as probes, revealing the effect of groove size, and programmed ice growth to fabricate freeze-cast metamaterials.

    • Meng Li
    • , Nifang Zhao
    •  & Hao Bai

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Achieving successful in vivo cartilage regeneration remains challenging. Here they present a cell-free, multiple hydrogen-bond crosslinked hydrogel loaded with tannic acid and Kartogenin with ultra-durable mechanical properties and stage-dependent drug release behavior to promote cartilage regeneration.

    • Yuxuan Yang
    • , Xiaodan Zhao
    •  & Xuesi Chen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Symbiosis should be maintained during the oral regeneration period. Herein, authors develop an occlusive membrane that induces symbiosis, thereby improving the performance of guided bone generation therapy.

    • Woojin Choi
    • , Utkarsh Mangal
    •  & Jinkee Hong

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The oral delivery of nano-drug delivery systems (Nano-DDS) remains challenging. Here the authors construct core–shell mesoporous silica nanoparticles with virus-like nanospikes and demonstrate the versatility of these nanoparticles as Nano-DDS to achieve efficient oral drug delivery by mimicking structural feature, chiral recognition, and gene encapsulation of viruses.

    • Zhentao Sang
    • , Lu Xu
    •  & Heran Li

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The therapeutic benefits of biomaterials-based treatments for oral ulcer have been limited by the materials’ poor adhesion and short-time retention in oral cavity. Here, the authors report a polymer binary elastomer adhesive patch that allows water-responsive sustainable delivery of bioactive small molecules and durable adhesion to oral mucosal wounds to achieve efficient therapy of oral ulcer.

    • Chunyan Cui
    • , Li Mei
    •  & Wenguang Liu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The treatment of diabetic wounds tends to be hindered by complex wound environments, and the critical role of the microenvironment in the chronic diabetic wounds has not been explored for therapeutic development. Here, the authors develop a wound microenvironment-responsive microneedle bandage to achieve self-enhanced, catabolic and dynamic therapy of chronic wounds.

    • Li Yang
    • , Dan Zhang
    •  & Xiaowei Zeng

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Current techniques for visualizing cell generated forces suffer from throughput limitations. Here, Gu et al. introduced photonic crystal cellular force microscopy, inspired by chameleons, enabling visualization and quantification of vertically directed cell forces, well-suited for drug screening.

    • Qiwei Li
    • , Zaozao Chen
    •  & Zhongze Gu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Enveloped viruses encased within a lipid bilayer membrane are highly contagious and cause diseases like influenza and COVID-19, so strategies for their prevention and inactivation are needed. Here, the authors develop a diatomic iron nanozyme with lipoxidase-like activity for the inactivation of enveloped viruses, where the diatomic iron sites destroy the viral envelope via lipid peroxidation.

    • Beibei Li
    • , Ruonan Ma
    •  & Yadong Li

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Resorbable bioelectronic devices have potential as tools for monitoring physiological parameters, but short functional lifetimes have slowed translation. Here, the authors report succinate-based copolyesters with barrier properties able to extend the functional lifetime of devices.

    • Samantha M. McDonald
    • , Quansan Yang
    •  & Matthew L. Becker

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Constructing polymer-based mimics on the surface of cells has potential to manipulate cell behavior, but precise control of grafting sites is challenging. Here, the authors report a method for site selected radical polymerization on cell surfaces by metabolic labelling.

    • Yihong Zhong
    • , Lijia Xu
    •  & Huangxian Ju

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Reperfusion is a main strategy for restoring blood supply after ischemic stroke, but it induces neuroinflammation that undergoes dynamic progression, hindering the treatment of ischemic stroke. Here, the authors report a pathogenesis-adaptive nanosystem for sequential and on-demand regulation of reperfusion-induced dynamic neuroinflammation for ischemic stroke therapy.

    • Di Wu
    • , Jing Zhou
    •  & Zhong Chen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    It is needed yet difficult to achieve a strategy for synthesizing single-atom nanozymes that integrate atomic metal dispersion, elevated mass transport and tailorable coordination environment. Here, the authors address this issue by developing a biomimetic synthetic strategy and demonstrate the application of the resultant single-atom Fe nanozymes for tumor visual identification.

    • Da Chen
    • , Zhaoming Xia
    •  & Yongquan Qu

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