A Biomaterial-Based Hedging Immune Strategy for Scarless Tendon Healing

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Immunology
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Tendon injury often results in scarring, hindering functional recovery due to imbalanced inflammation and a compromised regenerative niche.
• Developing strategies to prevent scarring and promote regeneration after tendon injury remains a significant challenge in tissue repair.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel hedging immune strategy based microfibrous membrane (Him-MFM) for tendon injury repair.
• To investigate the potential of Him-MFM to shift the immune response from a pro-scarring to a pro-regenerative state.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of Him-MFM by electrospinning fibers functionalized with specific immune cell membranes (CD11b+/CD68+).
• In vivo testing of Him-MFM in a murine flexor tendon injury model to assess its impact on inflammation, apoptosis, and regeneration.

Main Results:

• Him-MFM effectively modulated the immune landscape, reducing pro-inflammatory responses and apoptosis.
• The strategy promoted a shift towards a regenerative phenotype, significantly increasing IL-33 secretion and activating the IL-33-Th2 axis.
• Tendon repair with Him-MFM resulted in restored collagen organization and functional recovery comparable to mature tendons.

Conclusions:

• The developed hedging immune strategy using Him-MFM shows promise in preventing scarring and promoting tendon regeneration.
• This approach offers a potential therapeutic avenue for improving outcomes in tendon injuries by harnessing the body's regenerative capacity.