POS8-1450
Visible Light-Photocrosslinked GelMA Hydrogel Enables Sustained Polydeoxyribonucleotide Delivery for Enhanced Cartilage Regeneration
Topic
S8. Frontiers of Functional Polymers in Biology and Medicine
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Heesuk KIM
Jinhye BAE
Presenter(s)
Nakyung Kim (Jeonbuk National University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Articular cartilage has a limited self-repair capacity owing to its avascular structure and low cellularity. Although polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) has shown considerable potential for promoting cartilage regeneration, its therapeutic efficacy is limited by rapid diffusion and clearance following direct injection. To overcome these limitations, we developed a visible light-photocrosslinked gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel as an injectable carrier for the sustained delivery of PDRN.
GelMA hydrogels containing PDRN were fabricated using riboflavin 5′-phosphate sodium as a visible-light photoinitiator. Their physicochemical properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), swelling, degradation, compressive mechanical testing, and in vitro PDRN release analysis. Biological performance was evaluated through MTT assay, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) quantification, and RT-PCR analysis of cartilage-related genes (COL2, SOX9, and AGG). The cartilage regenerative potential was further assessed using a rabbit osteochondral defect model.
The PDRN-loaded GelMA hydrogels exhibited interconnected porous structures and sustained PDRN release, with release behavior governed by GelMA concentration. Increasing GelMA concentration enhanced mechanical strength while decreasing swelling and degradation rates. Among the tested formulations, the 14 wt% GelMA-PDRN hydrogel demonstrated the most favorable balance between sustained drug release, mechanical stability, and cytocompatibility. In addition, PDRN incorporation significantly promoted extracellular matrix production, upregulated cartilage-specific gene expression, and enhanced cartilage regeneration in vivo compared with GelMA alone.
These results suggest that the visible light-photocrosslinked GelMA hydrogel serves as an effective injectable platform for sustained PDRN delivery.
GelMA hydrogels containing PDRN were fabricated using riboflavin 5′-phosphate sodium as a visible-light photoinitiator. Their physicochemical properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), swelling, degradation, compressive mechanical testing, and in vitro PDRN release analysis. Biological performance was evaluated through MTT assay, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) quantification, and RT-PCR analysis of cartilage-related genes (COL2, SOX9, and AGG). The cartilage regenerative potential was further assessed using a rabbit osteochondral defect model.
The PDRN-loaded GelMA hydrogels exhibited interconnected porous structures and sustained PDRN release, with release behavior governed by GelMA concentration. Increasing GelMA concentration enhanced mechanical strength while decreasing swelling and degradation rates. Among the tested formulations, the 14 wt% GelMA-PDRN hydrogel demonstrated the most favorable balance between sustained drug release, mechanical stability, and cytocompatibility. In addition, PDRN incorporation significantly promoted extracellular matrix production, upregulated cartilage-specific gene expression, and enhanced cartilage regeneration in vivo compared with GelMA alone.
These results suggest that the visible light-photocrosslinked GelMA hydrogel serves as an effective injectable platform for sustained PDRN delivery.
