ROS-responsive hydrogel loaded with capsaicin promotes tenogenic differentiation of tendon stem/progenitor cells and enhances tendon injury repair.

ABSTRACT: Tendon injury repair remains challenging in sports medicine and orthopedics, partly due to limited endogenous regenerative capacity and sustained low-grade inflammation, which disrupt tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSPCs) homeostasis, impairing tenogenesis and enhancing osteogenesis, leading to complications like heterotopic ossification. Here, we engineered a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive hydrogel loaded with capsaicin (CGT) and explored its role in tendon regeneration. In vitro, under IL-1β-induced inflammatory conditions, CGT ameliorated TSPCs dysfunction by upregulating tenogenic markers (Scx, Tnmd, Mkx) and collagen synthesis, while downregulating osteogenic markers (OCN, Runx-2), reducing ALP activity, and inhibiting calcium nodule formation. Mechanistically, CGT may

SUBMITTER: Zhu YL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12813339 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature