LAUSR

Supramolecular hydrogels have great potential as biomaterials for tissue engineering applications or vehicles for delivering therapeutic agents. Herein, a self-healing and pro-osteogenic hydrogel system is developed based on the self-assembly of laponite nanosheets and guanidinylated chitosan, where laponite works as a physical crosslinker with osteoinductive property to form a network structure with a cationic guanidine group on chitosan chains. The hydrogels prepared by varying ratio of chitosan to laponite display self-healing and injectable properties (due to supramolecular forces) as well as osteoinductive activity (due to nanoclay). The hydrogels, enhance cell adhesion and promote osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In addition, the hydrogel is used as a malleable carrier for demineralized bone matrix (DBM). The loading of DBM does not affect self-healing and injectable natures of hydrogels and enhances osteogenic capacity, indicating advanced allograft bone formulations with carriers that facilitate handling and bone healing. This work provides the first demonstration of therapeutic supramolecular design for the treatment of bone defects.