Chen Yi, Tang Hai, Zhang Yan, Wang Lei, Zhu Jun, Wang Lele, Li Anqi, Zeng Xiang, Yin Binyu, Liang Yu, Dong Xiulin, Bai Qingfeng, Pan Ziyin, Wang Long, Zhang Lei, Yang Minglei, She Yunlang, Sun Weiyan, Zhang Kun, Chen Chang
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Central Laboratory and Department of Medical Ultrasound, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Nat Commun. 2025 Jul 1;16(1):5734. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-61135-z.
Epithelial malfunction rescue is the decisive step involved in complete trachea repair; however, this step remains challenging due to the harsh tracheal environment and unclear pathogenesis, which still made current bioengineered trachea transplants receive fatal complications. Herein, bacterial infection-induced neutrophilic oxidative stress imbalance and epithelial stemness loss were identified as the pathogenic factors. Targeting pathogenesis, multiplexed hydrogels with adhesive and anti-fouling Janus sides, anti-swelling and anti-bacteria properties are constructed to adapt in mucous and causative agent-rich trachea environments. In two epithelial injury models and two tracheal transplantation-related epithelial deficiency models, the hydrogels blockade oxidative stress-innate immune cascade axis, reactivate epithelial mucociliary regenerative ability to rescue epithelial malfunction with stenosis-free mucociliary epithelium regeneration. Importantly, the versatility of hydrogel is validated via its integration with routine bioengineered vascular and cartilage transplants, wherein the regenerated pseudostratification epithelium, cartilage and vascularization resemble native-like trachea, resulting in the complete tracheal repair including structure and respiratory function reinvigoration. Our research provides insights into epithelial interface diseases and guides related biomaterials design.
上皮功能障碍的挽救是完全气管修复的决定性步骤;然而,由于气管环境恶劣且发病机制不明,这一步骤仍然具有挑战性,这使得目前的生物工程气管移植仍会出现致命并发症。在此,细菌感染诱导的中性粒细胞氧化应激失衡和上皮干性丧失被确定为致病因素。针对发病机制,构建了具有粘性和防污Janus面、抗肿胀和抗菌特性的复合水凝胶,以适应富含粘液和病原体的气管环境。在两种上皮损伤模型和两种与气管移植相关的上皮缺陷模型中,水凝胶阻断氧化应激-固有免疫级联轴,重新激活上皮黏液纤毛再生能力,以无狭窄的黏液纤毛上皮再生来挽救上皮功能障碍。重要的是,水凝胶的多功能性通过其与常规生物工程血管和软骨移植的整合得到验证,其中再生的假复层上皮、软骨和血管化类似于天然气管,从而实现包括结构和呼吸功能恢复的完全气管修复。我们的研究为上皮界面疾病提供了见解,并指导相关生物材料的设计。