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Knee cartilage has limited self-repair ability due to lack of lymphatic circulation and direct blood supply. TGF-β1 is an important regulator of cartilage regeneration, but both endogenous and exogenous TGF-β1 have limitations, which restrict its clinical application. LIANAK, as a TGF-β1 mimetic peptide, has the effect of promoting cartilage regeneration, but there is a burst release phenomenon when used directly, and a suitable delivery system is required to maintain its concentration.
Preparation of self-assembling peptide nanofiber hydrogel (LKP): The researchers developed functional self-assembling peptide nanofiber hydrogel (LKP) by using the interaction between EKP (FEFEFKFK self-assembling peptide) and LIANAK. LKP has good biocompatibility and cartilage-promoting ability.
Preparation of SF-GMA/LKP composite scaffold: In order to improve the mechanical strength of LKP and slow down the degradation rate, the researchers combined LKP with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) modified silk fibroin (SF) to form an injectable hydrogel composite scaffold (SF-GMA/LKP).
Material characterization: Both EKP and LKP formed a uniform nanofiber structure of about 20-30nm, which was interwoven to form a loose porous network structure, which facilitated cell adhesion and proliferation.
Biocompatibility and cell proliferation: LIANAK in LKP can regulate cell proliferation, and its effect is similar to that of TGF-β1. The expression levels of ACAN, Sox9 and Col-II in LKP-treated cells were the same as those in the TGF-β1 group, indicating that the introduction of LIANAK can simulate the biological function of TGF-β1.
Characteristic analysis of composite materials: The addition of LKP increased the internal pore size of the composite material, resulting in increased water absorption and swelling properties and degradation rate. Doping with LKP can cause the conformational transformation of SF-GMA and improve the strength of the composite scaffold.
Cartilage repair effect: In the rabbit knee cartilage defect model, the SF-GMA/LKP composite scaffold showed good cartilage repair effect, especially at the ratio of SF-GMA/LKP10 and SF-GMA/LKP20, the composite scaffold had the best effect on the reconstruction of new cartilage and subchondral bone.
Improving cartilage repair efficiency: The nanofiber scaffold prepared by electrospinning technology has a large specific surface area, which is conducive to promoting cell adhesion; at the same time, the nanofiber scaffold also provides a mesh support structure similar to the extracellular matrix of cartilage cells for seed cells, which is conducive to the repair of cartilage tissue.
Application of composite materials: Electrospinning technology can be used to prepare composite materials, such as combining silk fibroin with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) to form an injectable hydrogel composite scaffold (SF-GMA/LKP), which can be used for high-quality cartilage repair. This composite material combines the advantages of electrospinning technology, improves the mechanical strength and biocompatibility of the scaffold, and is of great significance for cartilage repair.
This study prepared LKP hydrogel with nanofiber structure by combining self-assembling peptides and LIANAK, and combined it with GMA-modified silk to form SF-GMA/LKP composite scaffold, which effectively improved the quality of cartilage repair. This composite hydrogel scaffold can be used for high-quality cartilage repair and provides a new therapeutic strategy for the regeneration and repair of cartilage defects.
Electrospinning Nanofibers Article Source:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtbio.2024.100962
