Citation: Weixiao Ding, Shujun Wang, Peng Zhou, Hongyan Wang, Xinmeng Li, Yalei Qiao, Yixuan Wu, Jian Cui, Xiang Zhao, Chuntao Chen, Xiao Fu, Hongxia Qu, Lei Zhang, Dongping Sun. Hydrogel of fast stress relaxation co-delivering platelet-rich plasma and β-cells for diabetes treatment[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(10): 112128. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.112128 shu

Hydrogel of fast stress relaxation co-delivering platelet-rich plasma and β-cells for diabetes treatment

Weixiao Ding ^a ,
Shujun Wang ^b ,
Peng Zhou ^a ,
Hongyan Wang ^a ,
Xinmeng Li ^a ,
Yalei Qiao ^a ,
Yixuan Wu ^a ,
Jian Cui ^a ,
Xiang Zhao ^c ,
Chuntao Chen ^a ,
Xiao Fu ^d ,
Hongxia Qu ^{a, *,} ,
Lei Zhang ^{a, *,} ,
Dongping Sun ^{a, *,}

a.
Institute of Chemicobiology and Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
b.
Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210018, China
c.
The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211800, China
d.
Department of Pancreatic and Metabolic Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Drum Tower Clinical Medical College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, China

qhx@mail.njust.edu.cn

leizhang@njust.edu.cn

sundpe301@163.com

Received Date: 21 July 2025
Revised Date: 15 November 2025
Accepted Date: 17 November 2025
Available Online: 17 November 2025

Figures(4)

Hydrogel-encapsulated islet cell transplantation is an effective strategy to overcome immune rejection in type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, current research primarily focuses on the immune isolation function of hydrogels about islet cell, while the influence of their mechanical properties on islet cells is often overlooked. To address this oversight, a series of alginate-gelatin (Alg-Gel) hydrogels with different mechanical strengths were prepared by adjusting the molecular weight of sodium alginate and combining it with gelatin, designated as low- (LHG, 1.98 kPa), medium- (MHG, 4.21 kPa), and high-stiffness (HHG, 22.98 kPa) hydrogels. Among them, the medium-stiffness hydrogel (MHG) exhibited stress-relaxing properties, which can mimic the mechanical properties of native islets. Furthermore, it activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt)/Wnt signaling pathway, providing a favorable three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment for insulin-producing INS-1 cells. When further loaded with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), the resulting MHG@PRP construct then leverages calcium-dependent activation of the growth factor-PI3K/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) axis to enhance cellular physiological performance. It was demonstrated in vitro that MHG@PRP significantly improves islet cell viability and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Furthermore, in vivo experiments using a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mouse model confirmed that the MHG@PRP/cells construct effectively restores glycemic regulation. This hydrogel design, which synergistically combines biomechanical and biochemical cues, is expected to provide a novel and transformative paradigm for advanced islet cell therapy.
- Type 1 diabetes (T1D),
- Islet transplantation,
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP),
- Mechanical properties,
- Stress-relaxing
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