Injectable and biodegradable piezoelectric hydrogel for osteoarthritis treatment

Osteoarthritis affects millions of people worldwide but current treatments using analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs only alleviate symptoms of this disease. Here, we present an injectable, biodegradable piezoelectric hydrogel, made of short electrospun poly-L-lactic acid nanofibers embedded inside a collagen matrix, which can be injected into the joints and self-produce localized electrical cues under ultrasound activation to drive cartilage healing. In vitro, data shows that the piezoelectric hydrogel with ultrasound can enhance cell migration and induce stem cells to secrete TGF-β1, which promotes chondrogenesis. In vivo, the rabbits with osteochondral critical-size defects receiving the…

• UO
  University of Connecticut
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: R21AR078744, R01AR080102
• NI
  National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

  Awards: R21AR078744, R01AR080102, R21AR080919, R21AR074645