biostudies-literatureUnknown22Zhao FBone augmentation materials usually cannot provide enough new bone for dental implants due to the material degradation and mucosal pressure. The use of hydrogels with self-swelling properties may provide a higher bone augmentation, although swelling is generally considered to be a disadvantage in tissue engineering. Herein, a double-crosslinked gelatin-hyaluronic acid hydrogels (GH) with self-swelling properties were utilized. Meanwhile, niobium doped bioactive glasses (NbBG) was dispersed in the hydrogel network to prepare the GH-NbBG hydrogel. The composite hydrogel exhibited excellent biocompatibility and the addition of NbBG significantly improved the mechanical properties of the hydrogel. <i>In vivo</i> results found that GH-NbBG synergistically promoted angiogenesis and increased bone augmentation by self-swelling at the early stage of implantation. In addition, at the late stage after implantation, GH-NbBG significantly promoted new bone formation by activating RUNX2/Bglap signaling pathway. Therefore, this study reverses the self-swelling disadvantage of hydrogels into advantage and provides novel ideas for the application of hydrogels in bone augmentation.Bioactive materials201-210https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9535384biostudies-literatureA bioactive glass functional hydrogel enhances bone augmentation via synergistic angiogenesis, self-swelling and osteogenesis.PMC9535384Yang ZShao LZhao FChen XYan YXiong HfalseA bioactive glass functional hydrogel enhances bone augmentation via synergistic angiogenesis, self-swelling and osteogenesis.Bone augmentation materials usually cannot provide enough new bone for dental implants due to the material degradation and mucosal pressure. The use of hydrogels with self-swelling properties may provide a higher bone augmentation, although swelling is generally considered to be a disadvantage in tissue engineering. Herein, a double-crosslinked gelatin-hyaluronic acid hydrogels (GH) with self-swelling properties were utilized. Meanwhile, niobium doped bioactive glasses (NbBG) was dispersed in the hydrogel network to prepare the GH-NbBG hydrogel. The composite hydrogel exhibited excellent biocompatibility and the addition of NbBG significantly improved the mechanical properties of the hydrogel. <i>In vivo</i> results found that GH-NbBG synergistically promoted angiogenesis and increased bone augmentation by self-swelling at the early stage of implantation. In addition, at the late stage after implantation, GH-NbBG significantly promoted new bone formation by activating RUNX2/Bglap signaling pathway. Therefore, this study reverses the self-swelling disadvantage of hydrogels into advantage and provides novel ideas for the application of hydrogels in bone augmentation.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Apr2025-04-04T23:03:10.784Z2025-04-04T23:03:10.784ZS-EPMC95353843624666510.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.09.007