Procyanidin-crosslinked gradient silk fibroin composite nanofiber scaffold with sandwich structure for rotator cuff repair

Panpan Shang; Yu Xiang; Chenchen Xing; Sihao Chen; Feng Yuan

doi:10.1016/j.bioadv.2025.214183

Procyanidin-crosslinked gradient silk fibroin composite nanofiber scaffold with sandwich structure for rotator cuff repair

Biomater Adv. 2025 Jan 10:169:214183. doi: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2025.214183. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Panpan Shang¹, Yu Xiang², Chenchen Xing³, Sihao Chen⁴, Feng Yuan⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Food and Pharmacy, Shanghai Zhongqiao Vocational and Technical University, 3888 Caolang Rd., Shanghai 201514, PR China; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Pharmaceutical Intelligent Equipment, Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Center for Druggability of Cardiovascular Non-coding RNA, Institute for Frontier Medical Technology, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, 333 Longteng Rd., Shanghai 201620, PR China. Electronic address: shangpp@shzq.edu.cn.
² Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Yishan Rd., Shanghai 200233, PR China.
³ School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Pharmaceutical Intelligent Equipment, Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Center for Druggability of Cardiovascular Non-coding RNA, Institute for Frontier Medical Technology, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, 333 Longteng Rd., Shanghai 201620, PR China.
⁴ School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Pharmaceutical Intelligent Equipment, Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Center for Druggability of Cardiovascular Non-coding RNA, Institute for Frontier Medical Technology, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, 333 Longteng Rd., Shanghai 201620, PR China. Electronic address: chensh@sues.edu.cn.
⁵ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Yishan Rd., Shanghai 200233, PR China. Electronic address: yuanfeng19799@sina.com.

PMID: 39813740
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2025.214183

Abstract

Improving the regeneration of the tendon-bone interface (TBI) helps to decrease the risk of rotator cuff retears after repair surgeries. Unfortunately, the lack of inherent healing capacity of the TBI, insufficient mechanical properties, and abnormal and persistent inflammation during repair are the key factors leading to suboptimal healing of the rotator cuff. Therefore, a high-strength rotator cuff repair material capable of regulating the unbalanced immune response and enhancing the regeneration of the TBI is urgently needed. In this study, a novel sandwiched silk fibroin composite nanofiber scaffold with a biomimetic gradient structure was prepared through layer-by-layer continuous electrospinning, and then procyanidin was utilized to further enhance the mechanical properties and biological activities of the scaffold. The physicochemical characterization revealed that the procyanidin-crosslinked sandwiched gradient scaffold (GMPC) possessed an appropriate porosity and pore size and superior mechanical properties. Cytocompatibility assessment and immunofluorescence staining indicated that GMPC allowed rapid adhesion, proliferation, and infiltration of osteoblasts. ELISA and macrophage polarization experiments further confirmed that GMPC could effectively inhibit excessive inflammation in injured tissues and regulate the polarization of macrophages to the beneficial phenotype. Therefore, the procyanidin-crosslinked sandwiched gradient nanofiber scaffold might be a promising candidate for rotator cuff repair.

Keywords: Electrospinning; Inflammation; Polyethylene terephthalate; Procyanidin; Rotator cuff.