A Lignin-Based Coating to Improve Tricalcium Phosphate Bioceramic-Mediated Osteoimmune Reaction and Osteogenesis

A Lignin-Based Coating to Improve Tricalcium Phosphate Bioceramic-Mediated Osteoimmune Reaction and Osteogenesis

Journal of the American Ceramic Society

10.1111/jace.70785

https://doi.org/10.1111/jace.70785

Zhengyi Xing, Wen Tan, Qianyu Lin, Hongtao Yu, Jiancheng Bi, Fuli Peng, Siyuan Shang, Siyu Chen, Xiangdong Zhu, Jason Y. C. Lim, Maria Grazia Raucci, Luigi Ambrosio, Xian Jun Loh, Xingdong Zhang, Dan Kai, Xiao Yang

General Materials Science, Biomaterials, Osteogenesis, Lignin, Thermogel

29 April 2026

Z. Xing, W. Tan, Q. Lin, H. Yu, J. Bi, F. Peng, S. Shang, S. Chen, X. Zhu, J. Y. C. Lim, M. G. Raucci, L. Ambrosio, X. J. Loh, Z. Zhang, D. Kai, X. Yang, A Lignin-Based Coating to Improve Tricalcium Phosphate Bioceramic-Mediated Osteoimmune Reaction and Osteogenesis, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 2026, 109:e70785

Beta-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) bioceramic is a widely used artificial bone substitute, but its rapid degradation and inflammatory activation inhibit complete bone healing. Here, we synthesize a novel lignin-incorporated polyurethane (LPP) exhibiting a temperature-induced sol–gel transition, which can form a hydrogel at body temperature. This copolymer is further applied as a dual-functional coating onto TCP porous scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Our results demonstrate that the polyurethane coating effectively delays the degradation of TCP both in vitro and in vivo. The incorporation of lignin endows the polyurethane backbone with the capacity to reduce immune cell infiltration and promote neovascularization, thus enhancing the osteoinduction in TCP. For the implantation of in vivo femoral defects, the TCP-LPP scaffold achieves satisfactory bone regeneration, which is attributed to moderate degradation rate, enhanced osteoinductivity, and upregulation of N6-methyladenosine methylation. In summary, a new strategy of lignin coating with intrinsic antioxidant activity is developed to optimize the regenerative outcomes of TCP bone substitutes.

Publisher Copyright

This research / project is supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province - NA
Grant Reference no. : 2025ZNSFSC1658

This research / project is supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China - NA
Grant Reference no. : 2023YFB3813000

This research / project is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China - NA
Grant Reference no. : 32571546

This research / project is supported by the Qingcheng Project of Sichuan Province - NA
Grant Reference no. : NA

This research / project is supported by the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) - Clinician Scientist-Individual Research Grant
Grant Reference no. : MOH-001357-00

This research / project is supported by the Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore - RIE2025 Manufacturing, Trade and Connectivity (MTC) Programmatic Funding
Grant Reference no. : M25O2b0016

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Z. Xing, W. Tan, Q. Lin, H. Yu, J. Bi, F. Peng, S. Shang, S. Chen, X. Zhu, J. Y. C. Lim, M. G. Raucci, L. Ambrosio, X. J. Loh, Z. Zhang, D. Kai, X. Yang, A Lignin-Based Coating to Improve Tricalcium Phosphate Bioceramic-Mediated Osteoimmune Reaction and Osteogenesis, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 2026, 109:e70785, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/jace.70785. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.

https://oar.a-star.edu.sg/communities-collections/articles/23079

1551-2916

Institute of Materials Research and Engineering