Electrospinning Device: Silk fibroin hydrogel adhesive achieves adhesion and reconstruction of meniscus tears

Background

Meniscus injury is one of the common injuries of the knee joint, especially the lack of blood supply in one-third of the meniscus (white-white area), which makes the tear difficult to heal. Untreated meniscus tears may lead to abnormal stress distribution in the knee joint, joint instability, cartilage degeneration, and ultimately osteoarthritis.

Limitations of traditional treatment methods

Partial or total meniscectomy is a common treatment method, but these methods can only temporarily relieve pain and cannot protect the knee joint from the incomplete structure of the meniscus, which may accelerate knee joint degeneration.

Development of new treatment methods

Professor Ouyang Hongwei's team designed a bifunctional bio-releasing adhesive (S-PIL10) made of methacrylate silk protein cross-linked with phenylboronic acid ionic liquid, loaded with growth factor TGF-β1, for the repair and regeneration of meniscus tears.

Characteristics of S-PIL10 adhesive

The S-PIL10 adhesive has the characteristics of short-term solidification, which can bond meniscus tears and promote their regeneration. The adhesive affects the inflammatory microenvironment through dynamic boronate bonds, eliminates reactive oxygen species (ROS), and continuously releases TGF-β1 for cell recruitment and bridging of defect edges, strengthening local meniscus tear repair.

Biocompatibility and efficacy of S-PIL10 adhesive

The S-PIL10 adhesive showed excellent repair effects in a rabbit meniscus tear model, proving the feasibility of the concept of meniscus adhesives and providing a promising revolutionary strategy for preclinical studies of meniscus tear repair.

Connection with electrospinning

Enhancement of supramolecular interactions: In S-PIL10 adhesive, supramolecular interactions of β-sheets and hydrogen bonds enriched in phenylboronic acid ionic liquids (PILs) enhance wet adhesion, anti-swelling, and anti-fatigue capabilities. Electrospinning technology can be used to prepare nanofibers with similar supramolecular interactions, thereby enhancing the performance of the adhesive.

Drug release system: Electrospun nanofibers can be used as a drug release system, which is crucial for the sustained release of TGF-β1 in S-PIL10 adhesive. The literature mentioned that S-PIL10 adhesive can continuously release TGF-β1 for cell recruitment and defect edge bridging. Electrospinning technology can be used to prepare drug-loaded nanofibers to achieve controlled and sustained drug release.

Conclusion

In summary, the development of S-PIL10 adhesive provides a new strategy for the treatment of meniscus tears, combining chemical mechanical repair with inner meniscus regeneration, and is expected to become a revolutionary clinical treatment method. At the same time, the development of stem cell therapy has also brought new hope for the repair of meniscus injuries.

Electrospinning Nanofibers Article Source:

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47029-6