10.57647/jnsc.2026.1602.07

Viscoelastic Janus Nanocomposite Hydrogel for Periodontitis Immunomodulation via Co-delivery of IL- 1β Monoclonal Antibody and PDLSC Exosomes

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  • Lingyan Peng1,
  • Guohong Yuan2,
  • Jingru Zhao3,
  • Xiaohui Yin4,
  • Sicong Jiang4,
  • Xiangying Ouyang1,
  • Jing Qiao*4,
  1. Department of Periodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing, 100081, China
  2. National Research Institute for Family Planning National Human Genetic Resources Centers, Beijing, 100081, China
  3. Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Stem Cell Research Center, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
  4. First Clinical Division, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing, 100034, China

Received: 19-10-2025

Revised: 16-12-2025

Accepted: 28-02-2026

Published in Issue 30-04-2026

Copyright (c) 2026 Lingyan Peng, Guohong Yuan, Jingru Zhao, Xiaohui Yin, Sicong Jiang, Xiangying Ouyang, Jing Qiao (Author)

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Peng, L., Yuan, G., Zhao, J., Yin, X., Jiang, S., Ouyang, X., & Qiao, J. (2026). Viscoelastic Janus Nanocomposite Hydrogel for Periodontitis Immunomodulation via Co-delivery of IL- 1β Monoclonal Antibody and PDLSC Exosomes. Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry, 16(2 (April 2026). https://doi.org/10.57647/jnsc.2026.1602.07
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Abstract

A viscoelastic Janus nanocomposite hydrogel (Janus-GelLap) was engineered via sequential 3D printing using Gelatin Methacryloyl (GelMA) and exfoliated Laponite nanosilicates to enable spatiotemporally controlled co-delivery of a neutralizing IL-1β monoclonal antibody with documented cross-reactivity to rodent IL-1β (aIL1β) and periodontal ligament stem cell-derived exosomes (PDLSC-Exos). The fully exfoliated Laponite network increased the hydrogel’s surface area from 4.85 to 25.84 m²/g and enhanced the storage modulus (G′) from 2.15 to 8.24 kPa, endowing excellent shear-thinning and >95% rapid self-healing. In vitro release studies showed a biphasic diffusion of aIL1β (22 ± 3% burst, 78 ± 4% total) and a sustained zero-order-like release of PDLSC-Exos (61 ± 5% total) over 14 days, governed by Fickian (n = 0.48) and non-Fickian (n = 0.78) mechanisms, respectively. Cytocompatibility tests confirmed >95% cell viability with a 1.3-fold increase in hPDLSC proliferation. In LPS-stimulated macrophages, Janus-GelLap reduced TNF-α and iNOS expression by >80% while elevating Arg-1 and IL-10 by ≈5-fold; ELISA revealed TNF-α = 410 ± 65 pg/mL and IL-10 = 615 ± 80 pg/mL, confirming synergistic M1 suppression and M2 activation. In a rat periodontitis model, micro-CT analysis demonstrated near-complete bone preservation (CEJ–ABC = 0.51 ± 0.06 mm; BV/TV = 68.1 ± 4.6%; BMD = 1.10 ± 0.10 g/cm³; Tb.Th = 85 ± 6 μm), statistically indistinguishable from healthy controls. Although comprehensive periodontal immune cell profiling by flow cytometry and expanded leukocyte panels was not performed, immunofluorescence/immunohistochemistry of the defect region provided direct in vivo evidence of immunomodulation, revealing a pronounced shift in macrophage polarization from F4/80⁺iNOS⁺ M1 to F4/80⁺CD206⁺/Arg-1⁺ M2 phenotypes, accompanied by reduced IL-1β/TNF-α and enhanced OCN/Runx2 expression. These findings establish the Janus-GelLap as a multifunctional immuno-regenerative platform that effectively halts inflammation-driven alveolar bone loss and promotes coordinated tissue regeneration, providing a clinically translatable paradigm for osteoimmunomodulatory therapy in chronic inflammatory diseases such as periodontitis.

Keywords

  • Dual drug release,
  • Macrophage polarization,
  • Nanostructured biomaterial,
  • Osteoregeneration,
  • Sequential bioprinting
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