In recent years, fluorescent probes, as an analytical tool that can target and rapidly detect analytes, have been increasingly used for applications related to medical treatment, detection, and bioimaging. Researchers are interested in hemicyanine-based fluorescent probes because of their high quantum yield, tunable spectrum characteristics, absorption and emission in the near-infrared (NIR) region, and good photo-stability. The development of these dyes and their derivatives as NIR fluorescent probes for biological applications has advanced significantly in the last ten years. This review introduces processes for making hemicyanine dyes and the methodology for creating functional activity-based fluorescent probes. A variety of hemicyanine-based probes have been systematically developed for the detection of small biomolecules in various illnesses. Finally, the potential drawbacks of hemicyanine-based functional probes, and the prospects for future research and translation into clinical medicine, are also discussed. This study is intended to provide strategies for the development and design of novel fluorescence probes.

Untreated articular cartilage injuries often result in severe chronic pain and dyskinesia. Current repair strategies have limitations in effectively promoting articular cartilage repair, underscoring the need for innovative therapeutic approaches. A gene-activated matrix (GAM) is a promising and comprehensive therapeutic strategy that integrates tissue-engineered scaffold-guided gene therapy to promote long-term articular cartilage repair by enhancing gene retention, reducing gene loss, and regulating gene release. However, for effective articular cartilage repair, the GAM scaffold must mimic the complex gradient structure of natural articular cartilage. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology has emerged as a compelling solution, offering the ability to precisely create complex microstructures that mimic the natural articular cartilage. In this review, we summarize the recent research progress on GAM and 3D bioprinted scaffolds in articular cartilage tissue engineering (CTE), while also exploring future challenges and development directions. This review aims to provide new ideas and concepts for the development of gene-activated bioprinted scaffolds with specific properties tailored to meet the stringent requirements of articular cartilage repair.

Hydrogels play a crucial role in modulating the inflammatory microenvironment and promoting osteochondral regeneration. However, conventional hydrogels often suffer from complex compositions and fabrication procedures, and rarely achieve both stable anti-inflammatory regulation and efficient chondrogenic induction. In this study, we developed an easily fabricated, injectable, anti-inflammatory hydrogel (G-PICG) based on polyitaconate (PICG) and methacrylated gelatin (GelMA), and further incorporated two chondrogenic small molecules (CSMs) including Kartogenin (KGN) and Epacadostat (EPA), an indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO-1) inhibitor identified via bioinformatic analysis. The G-PICG hydrogel exhibited a porous microarchitecture, excellent injectability, superior biocompatibility, and pronounced chondro-protective effects. Transcriptomic sequencing analysis revealed that PICG polymer significantly downregulated key inflammatory genes by suppressing IL-17, TNF, and other inflammation-related pathways. Encapsulating KGN or EPA into G-PICG hydrogels significantly enhanced bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) migration and chondrogenic differentiation. In a rabbit osteochondral defect model, composite hydrogels resulted in superior osteochondral reconstruction, increased collagen II deposition, and reduced local inflammation, accelerating the formation and maturation of cartilage-like tissue. Overall, the composite hydrogel combines a simple, controllable formulation with integrated anti-inflammatory, pro-migratory, and chondrogenic induction, highlighting its translational potential as a candidate material for osteochondral tissue engineering.

Hydrogel dressings that can simultaneously curb infection and dampen inflammation are particularly attractive for accelerating multidrug‐resistant bacteria‐infected wound healing. However, clinical translation of many reported hydrogels is often constrained by multi‐component formulations, complicated preparation procedures, and insufficient sprayability, which limit conformal coverage on irregular wound beds. Polyitaconate possesses intrinsic antibacterial and anti‐inflammatory activities, yet its weak antioxidative properties and lack of thermogelling properties limit its utility in infected wound healing. In this study, we develop a curcumin‐modified polyitaconate‐based hydrogel (FPIC) that integrates antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. FPIC hydrogel exhibits thermoresponsive gelation, injectability, sprayability, and shear‐thinning properties, allowing convenient close contact with complex wound geometries. FPIC hydrogel inhibits bacterial growth, moderates excessive inflammatory responses, and eliminates reactive oxygen species while promoting angiogenesis, thereby facilitating the shift from the inflammatory phase to the proliferative phase of healing. Moreover, FPIC hydrogel enhances collagen deposition, speeds re‐epithelialization, and supports balanced tissue remodeling, enabling improved skin regeneration with a lower propensity for fibrosis. These findings establish FPIC hydrogel as a multifunctional and highly bioactive polyitaconate‐based hydrogel dressing with strong promise for treating infection‐ and inflammation‐associated wounds and advancing toward clinical use.

Itaconate is a bioactive immunometabolite with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Its unsaturated dicarboxylic structure allows