ACS nanoMay 30, 2025

Cartilage-Sticking Microspheres Using MXene for Light-Controlled Release of Water-Repelling Drugs and Stem Cell Delivery in Osteoarthritis

Regenerative Health Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 2, 2026

Abstract

MXene-based microspheres enable photothermal-controlled release of hydrophobic drugs in osteoarthritis treatment.

Intra-articular drug injection for osteoarthritis is challenged by rapid drug clearance from the joint.
Microspheres composed of HAMA/MXene-NCA@KGN were developed for effective cartilage adhesion and stem cell delivery.
These microspheres showed excellent biocompatibility and successfully adhered to cartilage surfaces.
Photothermal stimulation triggered the controlled release of the hydrophobic drug Kartogenin (KGN) from the microspheres.
KGN facilitated the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes, which may help restore cartilage matrix.
Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression was increased in osteoarthritis chondrocytes with appropriate thermal stimulation, potentially delaying disease progression.

Simplified

Intra-articular drug injection is an effective treatment for osteoarthritis (OA). However, the rapid clearance of drugs from the joint cavity results in low drug utilization and suboptimal therapeutic outcomes. This study describes MXene-based cartilage-adhesive microspheres for photothermal-controlled hydrophobic drug release and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) delivery. Nano cationic amylose (NCA) was obtained by modifying amylose with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTAC), and hydrophobic drug Kartogenin (KGN) was encapsulated in the hydrophobic helical cavity of NCA through ultrasonic treatment, resulting in nano cationic amylose@KGN complexes (NCA@KGN). HAMA/MXene-NCA@KGN (H/M-NCA@KGN) microspheres were prepared using a microfluidic device. These microspheres exhibited excellent biocompatibility, effectively adhered to the cartilage surface, and carried BMSCs. H/M-NCA@KGN microspheres demonstrated photothermal-controlled release of the hydrophobic drug KGN. Notably, KGN promoted the differentiation of BMSCs into chondrocytes, thereby improving the loss of extracellular matrix in joint cartilage. Additionally, appropriate thermal stimulation induced the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in OA chondrocytes, providing a protective effect and delaying the progression of OA. H/M-NCA@KGN microspheres enable controlled hydrophobic drug release and stem cell delivery for potential OA treatment applications.

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Cartilage-Sticking Microspheres Using MXene for Light-Controlled Release of Water-Repelling Drugs and Stem Cell Delivery in Osteoarthritis

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