Prof. Bing Han's group has been awarded the Bioactive Materials 2023 Best Paper Award for their article entitled "Facile fabrication of a biocompatible composite gel with sustained release of aspirin for bone regeneration". Previously, the paper was selected as an “ESI Highly Cited Paper”.

Mechanical compatibility and immunomodulation are the key functional properties of bone tissue engineering scaffold materials. Meanwhile, facile and economical fabrication procedures are also crucial for clinical translation from bench to bedside. Prof. Bing Han's team developed a double-network hydrogel for controlled delivery of aspirin, which is characterized by high mechanical strength. As reported, the aspirin-loaded hydrogel achieved stable and continuous drug release, increasing the proportion of M2 macrophages within the bone defect area, thereby achieving efficient bone tissue regeneration. 

Yunfan Zhang, a clinical postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Orthodontics, is the first author of this article. Prof. Bing Han, A.R. Tingting Yu and A.R. Xing Wang are co-corresponding authors. This work was also guided by Professor Xuliang Deng, Dean of Peking University School of Stomatology.

Yunfan Zhang, is also an assistant research fellow and resident doctor of Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology. As PI, Dr. Zhang has undertaken several research projects funded by the Young Elite Scientist Sponsorship Program by CAST, Youth Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation. As the first / corresponding author, Dr. Zhang has published a total of 10 articles in highly-reputable academic journals including Adv. Funct. Mater., Bioact. Mater., Engineering, etc. Dr. Zhang was also awarded the Peking University “Bo-ya” Postdoctoral Award, 23^rd CSA-CDS Poster Presentation First Prize and Peking University Excellent Resident Award.

Bing Han, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor, is currently the Deputy Director of the Department of Orthodontics, Peking University School of Stomatology. Prof. Han is also the Executive Director of the Tweed Center China, the Standing Committee of the COS-CSA, the Vice-Chairman of the Internet Dental Committee of the Chinese Geriatric Health Association. Prof. Han has presided over 12 national, provincial and ministerial scientific research projects and was awarded the Leading Talent of the National High Level Talents Special Support Plan, and has published more than 60 SCI papers in reputable international journals such as Adv.Mat., Adv.Funct.Mat., Mater.Today, Bioact.Mat., Prog Orthod, etc. To date, Prof. Han has been awarded a total of 33 Chinese and international patents.

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The Best Paper Award is an authoritative award for researchers who have published high-level articles in the journal 'Bioactive Materials'. The committee selects the best paper according to the potential impact on society, the importance of the research results, conceptual contributions, and technical challenges overcome.