Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41650592›Full record

ArticleBiomaterials2026

Click-crosslinked nanogels integrated into 3D stem cell spheroids enhance regenerative function for swallowing muscle repair.

Hideaki Okuyama, Mika Brown, Meghana Munipalle, Sara Nejati, Ran Huo, Hibiki Sakata, Ryosuke Mizuta, Yoshihiro Sasaki, Kazunari Akiyoshi, Hiroe Ohnishi and 5 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Biomaterials, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Hideaki OkuyamaSchool of Communication Sciences and Disorders, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Uji Tokushukai Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: h_okuyama@ent.kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp.
Mika BrownDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: mika.brown@mail.mcgill.ca.
Meghana MunipalleDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: meghana.munipalle@mail.mcgill.ca.
Sara NejatiDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: Sara.nejati@mail.mcgill.ca.
Ran HuoDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: ran.huo3@mail.mcgill.ca.
Hibiki SakataDepartment of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: sakata.hibiki.46r@st.kyoto-u.ac.jp.
Ryosuke MizutaDepartment of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: mizuta.ryosuke.6w@kyoto-u.ac.jp.
Yoshihiro SasakiDepartment of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: asaki.yoshihiro.8s@kyoto-u.ac.jp.
Kazunari AkiyoshiDepartment of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: akiyoshi.kazunari.2e@kyoto-u.ac.jp.
Hiroe OhnishiDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: h_oonishi@ent.kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp.
Yo KishimotoDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: y_kishimoto@ent.kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp.
Koichi OmoriDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Head and Neck Oncology and Innovative Treatment, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: omori@ent.kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp.
Jianyu LiDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: jianyu.li@mcgill.ca.
Luc MongeauDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: luc.mongeau@mcgill.ca.
Nicole Y K Li-JessenSchool of Communication Sciences and Disorders, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Research Institute of McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: nicole.li@mcgill.ca.

Funding

Bioprintable composite materials and microfluidic tools for vocal fold restoration and repairR01DC018577 · NIDCD · MCGILL UNIVERSITY · PI MONGEAU, LUC · 2021 to 2025
$2.5M
Develop a wireless, skin-conformable and dual-sensing wearable system in support of voice and upper airway telehealth careR01DC021461 · NIDCD · CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · PI Wei Gao, Jianyu Li · 2024 to 2026
$1.8M
NIDCD NIH HHS R01 DC018577NIDCD NIH HHS R01 DC021461
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Muscle injury or degeneration in the head and neck region can impair daily swallowing function. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has shown potential for muscle regeneration but faces challenges like poor cell survival and limited engraftment. Click-crosslinked nanogel-based hydrogels have emerged as promising cell delivery systems. This study introduces nanogel-microfiber fragments (NG-MF) as structural spacers within spheroids to enhance cell viability and function. By modifying cholesterol-bearing pullulan with acryloyl groups (CHPA) nanogels, we synthesized NG-MF using freeze-thaw cycles and sonication. NG-MF were then combined with adipose-derived MSCs (ADSCs) to fabricate hybrid spheroids. The NG-MF to ADSC ratio was optimized in hybrid spheroids, resulting in approximately a 5.6-fold increase in cell viability relative to cell-only spheroids. Hybrid spheroids also showed elevated secretion of key repair-associated factors, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and hepatocyte growth factor. This enhanced secretory function was maintained after the spheroids were refined to a smaller, injection-compatible size of approximately 100 μm for in vivo delivery. In rats with injured swallowing muscles, hybrid spheroid injection enhanced cell engraftment, reduced fibrosis, accelerated myogenin stabilization, and improved swallowing muscle function compared to cell-only spheroids. Cell engraftment rose by 20.8% from in vivo biodistribution analysis, and swallowing amplitude improved by 9.0% from electromyographic data three weeks post-treatment. The addition of NG-MF spacers in spheroids facilitates in situ injection-based delivery of ADSCs, thereby potentially enhancing in vivo swallowing muscle regeneration.

Indexed as

Mesenchymal Stem CellsPolyethylene GlycolsPolyethyleneimineRegenerationSpheroids, CellularAnimalsCell SurvivalClick ChemistryCross-Linking ReagentsGlucansHumansMaleNanogelsRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyCross-Linking ReagentsGlucansNanogelspolyethylene glycol polyethyleneimine nanogelPolyethylene GlycolsPolyethyleneiminepullulanAdipose-derived stem cellsCholesterol-bearing pullulanClick crosslinkingHybrid spheroidNanogelSwallowing muscle regeneration

Identifiers

PMID41650592
PMCPMC13374507

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.