Tailoring the multiscale mechanics of tunable decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) for wound healing through immunomodulation

With the discovery of the pivotal role of macrophages in tissue regeneration through shaping the tissue immune microenvironment, various immunomodulatory strategies have been proposed to modify traditional biomaterials. Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) has been extensively used in the clinical treatment of tissue injury due to its favorable biocompatibility and similarity to the native tissue environment. However, most reported decellularization protocols may cause damage to the native structure of dECM, which undermines its inherent advantages and potential clinical applications. Here, we introduce a mechanically tunable dECM prepared by optimizing the freeze-thaw cycles. We demonstrated that the alteration in micromechanical properties of dECM resulting from the cyclic freeze-thaw process contributes to distinct macrophage-mediated host immune responses to the materials, which are recently recognized to play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of tissue regeneration. Our sequencing data further revealed that the immunomodulatory effect of dECM was induced via the mechnotrasduction pathways in macrophages. Next, we tested the dECM in a rat skin injury model and found an enhanced micromechanical property of dECM achieved with three freeze-thaw cycles significantly promoted the M2 polarization of macrophages, leading to superior wound healing. These findings suggest that the immunomodulatory property of dECM can be efficiently manipulated by tailoring its inherent micromechanical properties during the decellularization process. Therefore, our mechanics-immunomodulation-based strategy provides new insights into the development of advanced biomaterials for wound healing.

Tribological performance and scuffing behaviors of several automobile piston rings mating with chrome-plated cylinder liner

The friction and wear properties,as well as the scuffing resistance,of different piston-ring coatings mating with a chrome-plated cylinder liner were investigated.Interrupted wear tests under the lubricant starvation condition were conducted to examine the wear behavior of Cr-diamond coating(GDC)and diamond-like coating(DLC).The results indicated that the DLC coating had outstanding tribological properties(small coefficient of friction and wear loss)at 150°C,while the GDC coating exhibited better performance at an elevated temperature(240°C).The DLC coating had a better scuffing resistance;no material adhesion occurred for 70 min under the unlubricated condition.The interrupted wear behaviors revealed that the scuffing process of the GDC coating involved the consumption of lubricant oil with relatively stable wear,a reduction in the friction force,and the occurrence of scuffing,in sequence.In contrast,although the friction force also increased after a short period of weak friction,no scuffing was observed.This is attributed to the formation of a mixed oxide and graphitic C tribolayer.