Piezoelectric hydrogel for treatment of periodontitis through bioenergetic activation

• Published in: Bioactive materials Vol. 35; pp. 346 - 361
• Main Authors: Liu, Xin, Wan, Xingyi, Sui, Baiyan, Hu, Quanhong, Liu, Zhirong, Ding, Tingting, Zhao, Jiao, Chen, Yuxiao, Wang, Zhong Lin, Li, Linlin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China Elsevier B.V 01.05.2024; KeAi Publishing Communications Ltd; KeAi Publishing; KeAi Communications Co., Ltd
• Subjects: Adenosine triphosphate; Bioenergetics; Biomedical materials; Bone growth; Bone regeneration; Cell activation; Cell differentiation; Defects; Differentiation (biology); Dimensional analysis; Energy; Energy metabolism; Gelatin; Genotype & phenotype; Gum disease; Hydrogels; Immune system; Immunomodulation; Inflammation; Ligaments; Macrophage polarization; Macrophages; Metabolism; Microenvironments; Mitochondrial bioenergetics; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Periodontal ligament; Periodontitis; Phenotypes; Piezoelectric hydrogel; Piezoelectricity; Regeneration; Regeneration (physiology); Simulation; Stem cells; Stimulation; Tilapia; Tissue engineering; Ultrasonic imaging; United States > US; Japan; Piezoelectric hydrogel; Periodontitis; Macrophage polarization; Mitochondrial bioenergetics; Bone regeneration
• ISSN: 2452-199X; 2097-1192; 2452-199X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.02.011

The impaired differentiation ability of resident cells and disordered immune microenvironment in periodontitis pose a huge challenge for bone regeneration. Herein, we construct a piezoelectric hydrogel to rescue the impaired osteogenic capability and rebuild the regenerative immune microenvironment through bioenergetic activation. Under local mechanical stress, the piezoelectric hydrogel generated piezopotential that initiates osteogenic differentiation of inflammatory periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) via modulating energy metabolism and promoting adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis. Moreover, it also reshapes an anti-inflammatory and pro-regenerative niche through switching M1 macrophages to the M2 phenotype. The synergy of tilapia gelatin and piezoelectric stimulation enhances in situ regeneration in periodontal inflammatory defects of rats. These findings pave a new pathway for treating periodontitis and other immune-related bone defects through piezoelectric stimulation-enabled energy metabolism modulation and immunomodulation. [Display omitted] •A wireless piezoelectric hydrogel was developed to generate electric signals effectively under various mechanical stresses.•The piezoelectric stimulation could energize impaired PDLSCs to osteogenic differentiation by boosting Δψm.•The piezoelectric hydrogel rebuilt an anti-inflammatory and pro-regenerative niche by phenotypic switching of macrophages.•The piezoelectric hydrogel enabled a high-quality regeneration of impaired tissue in periodontal inflammatory defects.