Bioinspired Hyperboloid Mechanical Metamaterial for Shock Absorption and Strain Regulation in Cartilage Remodeling

Abstract

Abstract Inspired by the shock‐absorbing capabilities of natural insect elytra, a hyperboloid lattice metamaterial exhibiting unique compression‐torsion coupling behavior is designed and fabricated. This structure efficiently converts dynamic loads into strain energy, enabling high‐strain elastic deformation. The hyperboloid lattice is integrated with a classic reticulation framework and filled with GelMA hydrogel, creating a tailored osteochondral scaffold with mechanical properties that closely match those of joint tissue. Under dynamic mechanical culture, compression‐torsion stimulation in the hyperboloid zone induced high‐strain elastic deformation, promoting chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells, while the more rigid reticulation zone, experiencing minimal deformation, facilitated osteogenic differentiation of stem cells. In a rabbit osteochondral defect model, hyperboloid‐based shock‐absorption scaffolds significantly enhanced the integrative repair of both cartilage and subchondral bone via the NF‐κB and calcium signaling pathways. The incorporation of the hyperboloid metamaterial, with its shock‐absorbing and strain‐regulating properties, demonstrates great potential for developing adaptable mechanical scaffolds for cartilage remodeling.