Functionalized hydrogels of CeO₂ and Urolithin A synergistically scavenge ROS and activate mitophagy for cartilage repair.

ABSTRACT: In recent years, CeO₂ nanoparticles are promising biomaterials due to their excellent biocompatibility and antioxidant properties. This study utilizes a methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) hydrogel platform to construct a dual-functional composite material, CeUA@GelMA, by co-loading CeO₂ nanoparticles with urolithin A (UA). This material possesses both reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and mitophagy activation capabilities, aiming to overcome the bottleneck in cartilage regeneration by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis. In vitro experiments confirmed that this material significantly reduces ROS levels within BMSCs under oxidative stress, maintains mitochondrial membrane potential, and promotes chondrogenic differentiation by upregulating genes such as Sox9,

SUBMITTER: Ma C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12828597 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature