Structurally reprogrammed modified citrus pectin (MCP) enables potentiated galectin-3 sequestration and injectable carboxymethyl chitosan/berberine hydrogel construction for osteoarthritis immunotherapy.

ABSTRACT: Osteoarthritis (OA) remains a major clinical challenge due to the lack of effective treatments capable of halting disease progression. Chronic synovial inflammation and cartilage degradation are hallmark features, wherein galectin-3 (Gal-3), a β-galactoside-binding lectin, plays a pivotal upstream role by driving M1 macrophage activation and chondrocyte apoptosis. Modified citrus pectin (MCP), a natural Gal-3 binder, possesses therapeutic potential but is hindered by rapid clearance and limited joint retention. Herein, we present oxidized MCP (oxMCP), structurally reprogrammed MCP, that functions as a Gal-3-sequestering and crosslinkable matrix. This transformation was achieved via periodate oxidation, which introduced dialdehyde groups for Schiff base crosslinking with N, O-carboxymethyl

SUBMITTER: Lin C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12509201 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature