Bioengineering DNA-based hydrogels for regenerative medicine: A review of programmable design, chemical synthesis and therapeutic potential.

Shihui Xu, Eon-Bee Lee, Yiming Shen, Yongtao Wang, Xue Zhang

Abstract readReview

In one paragraph

Review in Materials today. Bio, 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

5 authors.

Shihui XuSchool of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.

Eon-Bee LeeDepartment of Aquatic Life Medicine, Pukyong National University, Busan, 48513, South Korea.

Yiming ShenDepartment of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.

Yongtao WangSchool of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.

Xue ZhangSchool of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

DNA hydrogels have emerged as a transformative class of intelligent biomaterials for regenerative medicine, leveraging the unique programmability, precise molecular recognition, and excellent biocompatibility. Although substantial progress has been made in the development of DNA hydrogels for biomedical applications, a comprehensive understanding about how construction strategies govern physicochemical properties, biological functions, and regenerative medicine remains fragmented. This review systematically examines the molecular design principles, construction strategies, and advanced functionalities of DNA hydrogels, with a focus on their translation into tissue engineering and clinical applications. Physicochemical and biological properties are discussed to underpin their performance. The diverse biomedical applications are further highlighted, particularly for their regenerative potential in repairing bone, cartilage, cardiovascular, skin, and neural tissues. Additionally, they play a crucial role in tumor therapy and the regeneration of tumor-resected tissues. This review may provide a rational framework to guide the development of DNA hydrogels toward precisely regenerative medicine and personalized therapies.

Indexed as

Bioactive materialsDNA hydrogelsFunctionalityRegenerative medicineTherapeutic potential

Identifiers

PMID42494418

DOI10.1016/j.mtbio.2026.103448

PMCPMC13393442

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata

LicenceCC BY

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.