Injectable functionalised Lycium barbarum polysaccharide/alginate hydrogel particles for the treatment of bone defects.

Abstract

The treatment of bone defects presents a number of significant clinical challenges. In recent years, plant-derived hydrogels have demonstrated considerable potential as a means of intervening in bone defects. In this study, a alginate hydrogel (Alg) system containing the Chinese medicinal plant Lycium barbarum was prepared with the objective of promoting the repair of bone defects. The hydrogel system was composed of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP), sodium alginate, and Srcl₂. The study demonstrated that the hydrogel system was injectable and capable of rapid cross-linking to form a gel, rendering it suitable for bone defects of varying shapes. In vitro studies have shown that hydrogels exhibit good biocompatibility and have also been shown to promote bone and vascular regeneration. In animal experiments, the hydrogel system was observed to elicit bone-enhancing and angiogenic effects through the sustained release of active ingredients within the bone defect region. These findings suggest that the Sr-LBP/Alg hydrogel system may offer a potential avenue for bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.