GelMa/TPGS@Tea Polyphenols hydrogel slows down NLRP3/CASP1-mediated chondrocyte scorch death after growth plate Injury

The system utilizes the injectability and mechanical support of GelMA hydrogel, combined with the temperature-sensitive gel-forming property of TPGS and the specific inhibitory effect of tea polyphenols (TP) on NLRP3 inflammatory vesicles, with the aim of solving the problem of induced bridge formation and deformity after growth plate injury in pediatric orthopaedic clinics.

In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that the hydrogel system could rapidly gel and fill the defects at physiological temperature (37°C), and the TP component significantly slowed down CASP1-mediated chondrocyte pyroptosis by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, thus preventing the occurrence of bone bridges. Our study provides a bioactive, injectable, and NLRP3-targeted filler material for growth plate injury repair in pediatric orthopedics, which has great potential for preventing bone bridge formation!.