AccScience Publishing / IJB / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/IJB025180171
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Early Access

3D-bioprinted kartogenin-laden hydrogel promotes cartilage regeneration via smad1/5/9-mediated chondrogenesis of bone marrow stromal cells

Chenhui Yang1,2,3 Changshun Chen1,2 Rongjin Cheng1,2 Fei Yang1,2 Hefang Xiao1,2 Bin Geng1,2 Yayi Xia1,2*
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1 Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730030, China
2 Orthopedic Clinical Medical Research Center and Intelligent Orthopedic Industry Technology Center of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730030, China
3 Tianshui Hand and Foot Surgery Hospital, Tianshui 741000, China
Received: 28 April 2025 | Accepted: 5 August 2025 | Published online: 5 August 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
Abstract

This study presents a three-dimensional (3D)-bioprinted kartogenin (KGN)-loaded hydrogel with optimized biocompatibility and biomechanical properties for cartilage regeneration. By investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying KGN-induced chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), we identified the critical role of the Smad1/5/9 signaling pathway through transcriptomic analysis. The hydrogel scaffold demonstrated uniform microstructure, robust mechanical stability, and controlled degradation, supporting BMSC adhesion and proliferation. In vitro experiments revealed that KGN activation of Smad1/5/9 significantly enhanced chondrogenic differentiation, evidenced by upregulated cartilage-specific matrix production and morphological changes in BMSCs, while pathway inhibition diminished this effect. Animal experiments using a rat model of cartilage injury demonstrated the hydrogel’s biosafety, with no systemic toxicity or adverse inflammation, and its capacity to promote structured neocartilage formation rich in type II collagen. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses further validated the hydrogel’s superior repair efficacy compared to controls. These findings highlight the dual functionality of the 3D-printed KGN-loaded hydrogel as a mechanically stable carrier and a bioactive inducer of BMSC chondrogenesis, mediated via Smad1/5/9 signaling, offering a promising strategy for cartilage tissue engineering.

Keywords
3D bioprinting
Kartogenin
Smad1/5/9 pathway
Bone marrow stromal cells
Cartilage regeneration
Funding
This study was supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China (81960403, 82060405 and 82360436); Lanzhou Science and Technology Plan Program (2021-RC-102); Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province (22JR5RA943, 22JR5RA956 and 23JRRA1500); Cuiying Scientific and Technological Innovation Program of Lanzhou University Second Hospital (CY2021-MS-A07).
Conflict of interest
The author declares no conflict of interest.
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International Journal of Bioprinting, Electronic ISSN: 2424-8002 Print ISSN: 2424-7723, Published by AccScience Publishing