Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42174236›Full record

ArticleJournal of materials science. Materials in medicine2026

Tunable soy protein isolate hydrogel for nanoparticles brain release.

Matilde Ciprandi, Veronica Fontanini, Patrizia Sommi, Umberto Anselmi-Tamburini, Silvia Sesana, Francesca Re

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine, 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

6 authors.

Matilde Ciprandi *School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
Veronica Fontanini *School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
Patrizia SommiDepartment of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Umberto Anselmi-TamburiniDepartment of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Silvia SesanaSchool of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
Francesca ReSchool of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy. francesca.re1@unimib.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1374-567X

Funding

Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca 2021-ATE
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Implantable biomaterials for local drug release have been investigated to avoid the ned to cross the blood-brain barrier, which is one of the major limitations of current brain tumors therapies. However, their translation is still limited by inadequate tissue compatibility and suboptimal drug/nanoparticles release. In this study, soy protein isolate (SPI) hydrogels were engineered using microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) as a safe, naturally derived crosslinker, and optimized for brain-relevant constraints. Hydrogels were prepared at 10% and 12% (w/v) SPI and crosslinked with 20 or 40 mg MTGase/g SPI. Crosslinking was confirmed by SDS-PAGE, while scanning electron microscopy revealed a highly porous, microstructure with well-defined cavities. Hydrogels showed high water content (87-89%) and controlled swelling behavior over 72 h that is inversely correlated to MTGase concentration. Rheological analysis demonstrated solid-like behavior (G' > G''), shear-thinning viscosity suitable for syringe-based injection, and mechanical stability under dynamic stress. Among the tested samples, the 10% (w/v) SPI hydrogel crosslinked with 20 mg MTGase/g SPI exhibited a storage modulus (~260 Pa) closely matching native brain tissue, making it the most suitable candidate for intracranial application. This formulation enabled controlled release of 100-200 nm liposomes and sustained delivery of doxorubicin-loaded liposomes, resulting in a significant reduction in glioblastoma cell viability in vitro. Importantly, the hydrogel showed no cytotoxicity and did not allow cancer cell adhesion and infiltration, confirming its bioinert nature. Overall, MTGase-crosslinked SPI hydrogels emerge as versatile, scalable, and brain-compatible biomaterials for injectable implants and sustained local nanoparticle release.

Indexed as

BrainHydrogelsNanoparticlesSoybean ProteinsAnimalsBiocompatible MaterialsBlood-Brain BarrierCross-Linking ReagentsDelayed-Action PreparationsDoxorubicinDrug Delivery SystemsDrug LiberationHumansPorosityRheologyTransglutaminasesBiocompatible MaterialsCross-Linking ReagentsDelayed-Action PreparationsDoxorubicinHydrogelsSoybean ProteinsTransglutaminases

Identifiers

PMID42174236
PMCPMC13375659

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.