journal article·2025-12Open access

Mechanical Force Storage and Reprogramming Hydrogel for Scarless Repair of Sports Joint Wounds

Jiakang Zhang, Yuhui Zhang, Yuanru Lang, Tao Fu, Qian Liu, Long Chen, Peng Zhang, Yan Xiao, Yuntong Zhang, Shuo Fang, Meidong Lang

Advanced Science· Volume 12· Issue 47

Abstract

Abstract The wounds at the joints are subject to repeated pulling. This not only causes repeated rupture and bleeding of new granulation tissue, but also causes excessive exogenous mechanical stimulation of cell populations, leading to excessive cell proliferation and vascular proliferation at the trauma site. Inspired by the energy conversion of tendons, the “energy transit station” hydrogel is designed. When applied to dynamic joint wounds, the rigid cross‐linked network of hydrogels rapidly absorbs wound edge stress by elastic deformation and stores them as elastic potential energy in the topological network matrix, driving the hydrogels to exhibit programmable elastic recoil capabilities. Thus, the “energy transfer station” hydrogel not only shields stress concentration in sports injuries, but also reprograms energy forms to provide reasonable biomimetic contraction for wounds. In vivo research, compared with the control group (83.06%), this hydrogel can significantly accelerate the healing process of sports injuries (99.87%). The “energy transit station” property significantly downregulated the En1 lineage‐positive fibroblast population (only 9.21% of the control group) and coordinated the activation of α‐SMA‐positive myofibroblasts (only 14.62% of the control group). This research provides an innovative strategy for high‐quality healing of joint wounds through the conversion and re‐transmission of energy.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Tendon Structure and Treatment · Wound Healing and Treatments · Cellular Mechanics and Interactions

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education School of Materials Science and Engineering East China University of Science and Technology 130 Meilong Road Shanghai 200237 P. R. China

Institute of Molecular Medicine Renji Hospital School of Medicine Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200127 P. R. China

Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery The First Affiliated Hospital of Navy Medical University Shanghai 200433 P. R. China

Department of Plastic Surgery The First Affiliated Hospital of Navy Medical University Shanghai 200433 P. R. China

Funding

Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai Municipality

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