Micro- and nano-environment dual-modulated anti-tendon adhesion barrier membranes

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Despite promise in preventing peritendinous adhesion, electrospun membranes face many challenges related to their complex fabrication process, untargeted/uncontrolled drug delivery and consequently low therapeutical effect. Here, a micro-and nano-environment dual-modulated barrier membrane (MNBM) with on-demand gene delivery capability is presented. Our MNBM is developed by first preparing extracellular signal-regulated kinase-2 (ERK2) siRNA-loaded gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) nanogels via facile nano-emulsification technique, then incorporating these nanogels into poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) fibers via simple blending electrospinning. The GelMA nanogels offer a nano-niche for ERK2-siRNA encapsulation and allow for a nano-environment controlled siRNA release by readily tuning the GelMA concentrations during nano-emulsification, while the resultant MNBM can mediate a micro-environment controlled siRNA delivery in response to the matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) enriched micro-environment at the tendon repair site. Such MNBM can not only biologically orchestrate fibroblast behaviors by silencing the target gene expression, but also physically shield the tendon from extrinsic cell/tissue invasion. This study provides a proof-of-concept of anti-adhesion barrier membrane as an intelligent gene delivery system to offer a spatiotemporal and biophysical dual control over tendon recovery according to disease state and ensure long-term therapeutic efficacy. We envision such MNBM represents a promising therapeutic platform with great efficacy to achieve adhesion-free tendon repair.