Shear-Electrostatic Synergistic Hydrogels with Biomimetic Microchannels for Vascularized Maxillofacial Bone Regeneration

Injectable hydrogels for maxillofacial bone repair often sacrifice structural integrity or bioactivity to achieve surgical adaptability. To overcome this limitation, we developed a shear-responsive nanoarchitectonic hydrogel by integrating montmorillonite (MMT) nanosheets and RGD peptides. During minimally invasive injection, MMT-guided self-assembly generates interconnected microchannels while significantly enhancing mechanical properties. The hydrogel demonstrates exceptional clinical utility through rapid hemostasis and potent antibacterial activity, addressing critical requirements for infection-prone surgical sites. The microchannels combined with RGD peptides guide cell migration while establishing a pro-osteogenic microenvironment. Rat maxillary defect experiments demonstrate enhanced vascularization and bone regeneration through coordinated cellular recruitment and differentiation. By unifying injectable adaptability, self-assembled porosity, and multifunctional bioactivity, this material platform overcomes the limitations of static scaffolds and bioinert hydrogels, offering a clinically viable solution for complex maxillofacial reconstruction.