Stem Cell Membrane-Coated Microribbon Scaffolds Induce Regenerative Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses in a...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Immunology

Background:

• Cell membranes functionalize nanoparticles for drug delivery, but their use in tissue scaffolds for in vivo regeneration is unexplored.
• Scaffold immunomodulation is key for tissue regeneration, yet limited to soft tissues.
• Critical-sized bone defects require novel healing strategies, with adaptive immune cell roles unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate mesenchymal stem cell membrane (MSCM)-coated microribbon (µRB) scaffolds for treating critical-sized cranial bone defects.
• To explore the immunomodulatory potential of MSCM-coated scaffolds in bone regeneration.
• To assess the effect of MSCM coating on immune cell behavior and bone healing in vivo.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of microribbon (µRB) scaffolds coated with mesenchymal stem cell membranes (MSCM).
• Confocal imaging and proteomic analysis to confirm coating and characterize composition.
• In vitro and in vivo studies to evaluate macrophage polarization, T cell responses, and bone regeneration.

Main Results:

• Successful coating of µRB scaffolds with MSCM confirmed.
• MSCM coating promoted macrophage polarization to a regenerative phenotype.
• MSCM coating induced CD8+ T cell apoptosis and enhanced regulatory T cell differentiation.
• Combined MSCM coating and BMP-2 accelerated bone regeneration and suppressed inflammation.

Conclusions:

• MSCM-coated microribbon scaffolds represent a promising strategy for treating critical-sized bone defects through targeted immunomodulation.
• This platform offers broad applicability for enhancing tissue regeneration across different tissue types using various cell membranes and scaffolds.
• The findings highlight the potential of cell membrane biomimicry for engineering advanced regenerative medicine therapies.