An anti-adhesive barrier membrane incorporating hyaluronic acid (HA) can reduce fibroblasts attachment and impart lubrication effect for smooth tendon gliding during management of post-surgical tendon adhesion. On the other hand, as numerous growth factors are required during tendon recovery, growth factors released by platelets in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can provide beneficial therapeutic effects to facilitate tendon recovery post tendon injury. Furthermore, PRP is reported to be associated with anti-inflammatory properties for suppressing postoperative adhesion. Toward this end, we fabricate core-shell nanofiber membranes (NFM) with HA/PRP-infused core and polycaprolactone shell in this study. Different NFM with 100 % (H-P), 75 % (HP31-P), 50 % (HP11-P) and 25 % (H31-P) HA in the core was fabricated through coaxial electrospinning and analyzed through microscopic, pore size, mechanical, as well as HA and growth factor release studies. In vitro study with fibroblasts indicates the NFM can act as a barrier to prevent cell penetration and reduce cell attachment/focal adhesion, in addition to promoting tenocyte migration in tendon healing. In vivo studies in a rabbit flexor tendon rupture model indicates the HP11-P NFM shows improved efficacy over H-P NFM and control in reducing tendon adhesion formation and inflammation, while promoting tendon healing, from functional assays and histological analysis.
Keywords: Core-shell nanofiber; Growth factors; Hyaluronic acid; Platelet rich plasma; Tendon adhesion.
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.