bims-livmat 2025-09-21 papers

bims-livmat

Biomed News

on Living materials

Issue of 2025–09–21
eight papers selected by
Sara Trujillo Muñoz, Leibniz-Institut für Neue Materialien

Bacteria-mediated cancer therapy (BMCT): Therapeutic applications, clinical insights, and the microbiome as an emerging hallmark of cancer.
A multifunctional living hydrogel for the synergistic management of infected diabetic wounds.
Nanozyme-Engineered Probiotic Microneedle Patch for Chronic Diabetic Wound Therapy.
Deacetylated konjac glucomannan/inulin-phycocyanin hydrogel loaded with Escherichia coli Nissle 1917: a structurally reinforced intelligent-responsive delivery system.
Advances in polysaccharide-based biopolymers for probiotic encapsulation: From single polysaccharides to composite systems.
Biohybrid Living Material with Antibacterial and Regenerating Properties Based on Probiotic Bacteria Stress Metabolism Modulation.
Engineering microalgae-based oxygenators for hypoxia relief and enhanced photodynamic therapy against biofilms in diabetic wounds healing.
Relationships of cereal β-glucan structural and physicochemical characteristics with Lactobacillus plantarum encapsulation and viability in alginate-based microgels.

Biomed Pharmacother. 2025 Sep 17. pii: S0753-3322(25)00753-X. [Epub ahead of print]192 118559

Bacteria-mediated cancer therapy (BMCT): Therapeutic applications, clinical insights, and the microbiome as an emerging hallmark of cancer.

Mrunali Jayaprakash, Deekshit Vijaya Kumar, Gunimala Chakraborty, Anirban Chakraborty, Vinod Kumar.

  The host microbiota has emerged as a critical modulator of immunity and cancer pathogenesis, influencing not only tumor initiation and progression but also therapeutic responses. This review explores the multifaceted roles of commensal and engineered bacteria in cancer therapy, highlighting the underlying mechanisms of bacterial tumor targeting, immunomodulation, and synergy with immune checkpoint inhibitors. We summarize the contributions of key bacterial genera-such as Clostridium, Bifidobacterium, Listeria, Salmonella, and Escherichia-focusing on their direct oncolytic properties, delivery systems, and interactions with the tumor microenvironment. Clinical trials employing live bacteria, bacterial metabolites, and fecal microbiota transplantation are also discussed, emphasizing their translational potential and current limitations. Additionally, we explore how the microbiome has been recognized as an enabling hallmark of cancer, capable of influencing inflammation, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance. Despite significant progress, challenges such as safety, delivery specificity, and regulatory concerns remain. Advances in synthetic biology, precision microbiome engineering, and personalized medicine offer promising strategies to overcome these barriers. By integrating microbial biology with immuno-oncology, bacteria-mediated cancer therapy (BMCT) represents a novel frontier with transformative potential in cancer treatment.

Keywords:  Bacteria; Cancer; Immunotherapy; Microbial metabolites; Oncomicrobiomics; Polymorphic microbiome

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2025.118559
Mater Today Bio. 2025 Jun;32 101787

A multifunctional living hydrogel for the synergistic management of infected diabetic wounds.

Yanchi Liu, Mingrui Yang, Yuqiu Li, Yingyang Liu, Hongying Su, Wenping Zhang, Yuan Liu, Qiling Zhang, Chengxiao Wang.

  The primary causes of poor healing in diabetic wounds are bacterial infection, immune imbalance, and chronic inflammation. In this study, we employed the "fighting bacteria with bacteria" strategy to develop a dynamic living hydrogel system that comprehensively coordinates antibacterial, antioxidant, and regenerative functions for infectious diabetic wounds. Through engineered integration of functionalized probiotics and adaptive hydrogel networks, Lactobacillus rhamnosus CLK 101 (LRh) was biosynthesized with intracellular nano-selenium (nanoSe) and surface-coated with ceramide (CAD). The probiotics were then encapsulated within a biocompatible phospholipid polymer hydrogel that maintained probiotic viability. This living hydrogel system synergistically accelerated healing through multiple regulatory mechanisms. First, the probiotics exhibit inherent antibacterial properties, effectively eliminating Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from the wound. Moreover, the intracellular nanoSe is released into the hydrogel, effectively scavenging excess reactive oxygen species (ROS). It also presents a synergistic effect with the probiotics by modulating macrophage polarization and reversing the inflammatory microenvironment of the wound. Finally, the ceramide coating plays a crucial role in restoring the barrier function of the skin. This novel strategy opens new avenues for living bacterial therapy as an effective treatment in the management of infected diabetic wounds.

Keywords:  Diabetes; Infected wound healing; Living hydrogel; NanoSe; Probiotics

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtbio.2025.101787
Adv Sci (Weinh). 2025 Sep 17. e12127

Nanozyme-Engineered Probiotic Microneedle Patch for Chronic Diabetic Wound Therapy.

Xueyang Wang, Shuhua Liu, Shisuo Jing, Siyu Zhang, Yinli Jin, Wen Zhang, Qiongfang Ruan, Wei Li.

  Chronic diabetic wounds are notoriously difficult to heal due to persistent bacterial infection, oxidative stress, and tissue hypoxia. Here, a multifunctional probiotic microneedle (MN) patch embedding platinum nanozyme-engineered Bacillus subtilis (Pt-M@B. sub) within a dissolvable, biocompatible polymer matrix is presented for synergistic diabetic wound therapy. This biohybrid system alleviates reactive oxygen species (ROS), combats bacterial infection, relieves hypoxia, and exerts anti-inflammatory effects. The platinum nanozyme modification protects the probiotics of B. subtilis by scavenging ROS and generating oxygen in situ, thereby enhancing probiotic survival and function under harsh wound conditions. Upon transdermal application, the MN patch (termed Pt-M@B. sub MN patch) enables efficient, minimally invasive delivery of the therapeutic nanozyme-modified probiotics directly into the wound bed, where the functionalized living material significantly suppressed Staphylococcus aureus infection, reduced inflammation, promoted collagen deposition and angiogenesis, and accelerated wound closure. Biosafety assessments confirmed excellent biocompatibility and systemic safety of the probiotic MN patch. Moreover, the patch exhibited efficient skin penetration and drug delivery in human cadaver skin, indicating strong clinical translation potential. Overall, this work introduces a robust living-materials-based strategy that integrates microbial therapy with catalytic nanotechnology for effective management of chronic infected wounds.

Keywords:  Diabetic wounds; Microneedles; Nanozymes; Probiotics

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202512127
Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Sep 12. pii: S0141-8130(25)08209-1. [Epub ahead of print]328(Pt 2): 147652

Deacetylated konjac glucomannan/inulin-phycocyanin hydrogel loaded with Escherichia coli Nissle 1917: a structurally reinforced intelligent-responsive delivery system.

Sijing Yuan, Shuning Xue, Jingchao Kang, Xiang Li, Xuejiao Wang, Xiaomei Xiang, Xianchao Feng, Lin Chen.

  Probiotics are essential for maintaining gut microbiota balance and promoting human health, but their effectiveness depends on the successful delivery of sufficient viable probiotics to the colon. This study developed an innovative enzyme-responsive hydrogel platform that used phycocyanin (PC) as a multifunctional component within polysaccharide matrices (IP: 40 % w/v inulin and 3 % w/v PC; DP: 14 % w/v deacetylated konjac glucomannan and 1 % w/v PC) to encapsulate Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN). In contrast to conventional systems, PC served three distinct functions: structural reinforcement via hydrogen bonding, enzyme-triggered release through specific trypsin degradation in the colon, and inherent prebiotic nutrition. PC functioned as a dynamic sacrificial linker within the network, enabling targeted pore exposure and programmable probiotic release, which could be tuned from 2 to 20 h by adjusting the polysaccharide concentration. The hydrogels provided exceptional gastric protection (94.8-96.6 % survival) and prolonged storage stability for probiotics (≥81.1 % viability after 28 d). The platform's adaptability to food matrices (dairy, confectionery), along with concentration-tunable release and refrigerated stability, indicates significant commercial potential. The study further highlighted superior prebiotic properties, precise colon specificity, and economical fabrication with simple preparation, thereby demonstrating substantial potential for functional foods targeting gut health improvement.

Keywords:  Intelligent responsive; Polysaccharide hydrogels; Probiotic delivery

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.147652
Curr Res Food Sci. 2025 ;11 101186

Advances in polysaccharide-based biopolymers for probiotic encapsulation: From single polysaccharides to composite systems.

Ran Gao, Dandan Zhao, Xiaoxuan Zhou, Zhengdong Wan, Xuan Wang, Huan Rao, Xueqiang Liu, Xiaoguang Gao, Jianxiong Hao.

  Probiotics, as beneficial microorganisms, are critical to host health. However, their viability is often compromised during processing, storage, and gastrointestinal transit, significantly compromises their colonization efficacy and therapeutic potential. Polysaccharides have emerged as pivotal materials for probiotic encapsulation due to their excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and unique functional properties. This review systematically examines traditional polysaccharide-based encapsulation technologies, such as embedding and coating techniques, highlighting limitations of single-polysaccharide systems, including excessive porosity, inadequate mechanical strength, suboptimal encapsulation efficiency, and poor targeted release precision. In contrast to previous research focused on single polysaccharides, this review focuses on composite polysaccharide encapsulation systems, particularly polysaccharide-polysaccharide hybrids and polysaccharide-protein complexes, which effectively address the limitations of single-polysaccharide systems in probiotic encapsulation while significantly enhancing encapsulation performance. Furthermore, it investigates the advantages of prebiotic incorporation in promoting probiotic proliferation and suppressing pathogenic microorganisms, providing novel optimization strategies for delivery systems. These findings establish critical theoretical and technical foundations for translating these advancements into functional foods and oral pharmaceutical formulations.

Keywords:  Biopolymer; Composite delivery systems; Encapsulation; Polysaccharide-protein complexes; Prebiotic synergy; Probiotics

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crfs.2025.101186
Macromol Biosci. 2025 Sep 17. e00452

Biohybrid Living Material with Antibacterial and Regenerating Properties Based on Probiotic Bacteria Stress Metabolism Modulation.

Alina V Lokteva, Kristina O Baskakova, Erik R Gandalipov, Nikita S Serov, Mariia A Mikhailova, Elena I Koshel.

  Wound healing is an intricate process that involves various biochemical pathways at each stage of tissue regeneration. Wound therapy is a series of distinct treatment stages that has a limited efficacy if wounds are of complex etiologies. A modern approach to this problem may be the development of bifunctional adaptive biohybrid systems that can concurrently affect pathogens' growth, inflammation, and tissue regeneration. We have developed biohybrid living material with antibacterial and regenerating properties based on induced hormesis by oxidative stress onto probiotic bacteria with prolonged synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, increased antibacterial action, and regeneration of the burn wound. Material demonstrates almost complete wound healing with a wound area difference 3-4 times with natural healing in vivo burn wound model for 21 days, antibacterial activity against wound antibiotic-resistance pathogens Escherichia coli K12 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 in 4 and 5-fold, respectively in co-cultivation model, and has no toxicity to human skin fibroblasts and β-hemolysis in the in vitro model. Our findings promise the improving tissue regeneration of burn wounds, therapy against antibiotic-resistance pathogens by eliminating antibiotics, and other classical bactericides.

Keywords:  biohybrid living materials; hormesis; probiotics; titanium dioxide; wound healing

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.202500452
J Colloid Interface Sci. 2025 Sep 12. pii: S0021-9797(25)02399-9. [Epub ahead of print]702(Pt 2): 139007

Engineering microalgae-based oxygenators for hypoxia relief and enhanced photodynamic therapy against biofilms in diabetic wounds healing.

Yu Zheng, Yanxin Wu, Ruping Li, Ruotong Yang, Ke Liu, Zhanlin Zhang, Ya Liu, Yao He.

  Diabetic wounds present complex therapeutic challenges due to bacterial infection, persistent inflammation, microvascular hypoxia, and biofilm formation. Although photodynamic therapy (PDT) enables antibacterial activity in deep tissues, its efficacy is limited under hypoxic conditions and within biofilms. To address this, we developed an engineered microalgae-based oxygen-generating system capable of sustained in situ oxygen production to alleviate hypoxia, enhance PDT effectiveness, and disrupt biofilms. Specifically, these oxygenators comprise Chlorella vulgaris (Cv) was encapsulated within a bioactive metal-phenolic network formed by epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and Fe3+ ions via layer-by-layer assembly, followed by loading with the photosensitizer tetra-(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (TCPP), resulting in a multifunctional system designated as Cv@EFe-TCPP. The embedded Cv continuously produces oxygen through photosynthesis, a process modulated by the thickness of the coating. Meanwhile, the metal-phenolic coating and TCPP generate reactive oxygen species upon light irradiation. The endogenous oxygen supply significantly improves PDT efficiency by mitigating hypoxia, thereby enhancing antibacterial and anti-inflammatory outcomes. In addition, under light exposure, Cv@EFe-TCPP promotes cell migration, reduces inflammatory responses, and stimulates angiogenesis and tissue regeneration, without inducing detectable side effects in normal tissues. This study extends the scope of PDT-based antibacterial strategies by integrating photosynthetic oxygen production, offering a promising therapeutic platform for diabetic wound healing.

Keywords:  Chlorella vulgaris; Diabetic wound; Engineering oxygenators; Oxygen production; Photodynamic therapy

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2025.139007
Carbohydr Polym. 2025 Nov 15. pii: S0144-8617(25)00961-0. [Epub ahead of print]368(Pt 2): 124176

Relationships of cereal β-glucan structural and physicochemical characteristics with Lactobacillus plantarum encapsulation and viability in alginate-based microgels.

Ming Zhang, Shunqian Xu, Mengdi Chen, Ting Li, Xinxia Zhang, Li Wang.

  The molecular structure of cereal-derived β-glucans is essential in determining their physicochemical properties. This study showed how β-glucan DP3:DP4 ratio affects self-assembly kinetics and network stability for probiotic protection. Barley β-glucan (BBG, DP3:DP4 = 2.4) formed rapid entanglement-driven 3D microporous gels, while oat β-glucan (OBG, DP3:DP4 = 1.8) formed slower lamellar networks. BBG's network structure limited ice crystal growth, with semi-crystalline domain resisted thermal collapse (melting peak >63 °C), and reduced osmotic swelling through chain entanglement. These properties allowed BBG to maintain probiotic viability after freeze-drying (65.7 % survival compared to OBG's 27.1 %), thermal sterilization (8.3 log CFU/g at 68 °C), and digestion (9.24 log CFU/g retention). At the molecular level, DP3-enriched chains increased crosslinking density and bacterial adsorption, synergistically protecting probiotics. These results emphasize the importance of β-glucan fine structure (DP3:DP4 ratio) in encapsulation performance, showing BBG as a better material for probiotic delivery systems.

Keywords:  Barley; Delivery; Oat; Probiotic; Rheology

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2025.124176