Coenzyme A-Responsive Hydrogel Sensor for Wireless Monitoring and Treatment of Osteoarthritis

A coenzyme A (CoA-SH)-responsive electronic hydrogel sensor that can relieve osteoarthritis based on carbonized polydopamine-integrated disulfide bonds-contained polymer dots (cPDA@PDA hydrogel) is conceived in this study. The cleavage of disulfide bonds occurred due to the accumulation of CoA-SH, controlling the release of carbonized polydopamine (cPDA) from the integrated polymer dots (PD). The hydrogel mechanical properties are altered, increasing the maximum stretching from 199.7 % to 352.9 % after 12 h and the shift in the surface morphology. The exposure to CoA-SH controls the release of the cPDA, decreasing the electronic resistivity from 147.1 k omega to 56.99 k omega after 12 h. In vitro analysis using the articular chondrocytes of wild type (WT), Nudt7-/-, and Acot12-/-shows a sensitivity toward CoA-SH, which is depicted by the decrease in electronic resistance after treatment. In vivo analysis shows a resistance of 131.1 k omega for the Nudt7-/-mice, which is lower than the resistance of the NUDT7-restored mice (225.1 k omega). Additionally, cartilage degradation could be prevented for mice-treated PD-containing hydrogel, showing tibia thickness of 111.5 mu m compared to that without PD hydrogel (74.84 mu m). This result indicates that the cPDA@PD hydrogel can diminish the accumulation of CoA-SH and facilitate the treatment of osteoarthritis.