journal article·2026-05-19Open access

Mastication‐Induced Electrical Stimulation Activates Prg4 + Chondroprogenitors for Osteoarthritis Therapy

Shi‐Yang Feng, Jing‐Rong Cheng, Yu Qin, Jie Lei, Chen‐Chen Gao, Hong‐Ying Fu, Li‐Ping Wu, Thanh D. Nguyen, Xu‐Liang Deng, Kai‐Yuan Fu, Yang Liu

Abstract

ABSTRACT Osteoarthritis (OA) is a whole‐joint degenerative disease primarily driven by excessive mechanical overloading, yet current therapies fail to harness biomechanical cues to halt cartilage degeneration. Here, we developed mastication‐driven magnesium‐incorporated piezoelectric nanofibers (MagPie) that could convert joint loading into localized electrical stimulation while releasing Mg 2 + to neutralize the acidic microenvironment. Under mechanical stimulation, MagPie promoted chondrocyte anabolism and suppressed inflammation in vitro. In a rat temporomandibular joint OA model induced by overloading, MagPie, coupled with physiological mastication, restored the damaged osteochondral unit. Through single‐cell transcriptomics, an electro‐sensitive Prg4 + chondroprogenitor‐like cell population was identified as a key mediator of cartilage regeneration. Mechanistically, MagPie‐activated Prg4 + cells enhanced anabolic activity via the ECM‐mediated FAK‐PI3K‐Akt axis and ameliorated the arthritic microenvironment by shifting macrophage polarization toward an anti‐inflammatory phenotype. Genetic ablation of Prg4 attenuated the therapeutic efficacy of MagPie. Together, these findings uncover a mechanism of electrosensitive tissue repair and establish a ‘trash‐to‐treasure’ strategy that harnesses joint overloading to activate endogenous regenerative programs for OA therapy.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms · Mesenchymal stem cell research · Bone Tissue Engineering Materials

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

Affiliations

Center For TMD and Orofacial Pain Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology Beijing China

NMPA Center for Innovation and Research in Regulatory Science and Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices Beijing China

National Center for Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and NHC Research Center of Engineering and Technology for Computerized Dentistry Beijing China

Beijing Key Laboratory of Biomaterials for Oral Disease Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology Beijing China

Department of Dental Materials and Dental Medical Devices Testing Center Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology Beijing China

Department of Orthopedics Peking University Third Hospital Beijing China

Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut USA

Institute of Materials Science Polymer Program University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut USA

Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut USA

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality

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