A MgFe-LDH Nanosheet-Incorporated Smart Thermo-Responsive Hydrogel with Controllable Growth Factor Releasing Capability for Bone Regeneration.

Although growth factor (GF)-loaded hydrogels have been explored as promising materials in repairing bone defects, it still remains challenging to construct smart hydrogels with excellent gelation/mechanical properties as well as controllable GF releasing capability. Herein, we report the incorporation of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2)-functionalized MgFe-LDH nanosheets into chitosan/silk fibroin (CS) hydrogels loaded with platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) to construct a smart injectable thermo-responsive hydrogel (denoted as CSP-LB), which can achieve a burst release of PDGF-BB and a sustained release of BMP-2, for highly efficient bone regeneration. The incorporation of MgFe-LDH in CS hydrogel not only shortens the gelation time and decreases sol-gel transition temperature, but also enhances the mechanical property of the hydrogel. Because of the sequential release of dual-GFs and sustained release of bioactive Mg 2+ /Fe 3+ ions, the in vitro experiments prove that the CSP-LB hydrogel exhibits excellent angiogenic and osteogenic properties compared with the CS hydrogel. In vivo experiments further prove that the CSP-LB hydrogel can significantly enhance bone regeneration with higher bone volume and mineral density than that of the CS hydrogel. Our smart thermo-sensitive CSP-LB hydrogel possesses excellent gelation capability and angiogenic and osteogenic properties, thus providing a promising minimally invasive solution for bone defect treatment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.