Astragaloside-loaded PCL microspheres prepared from microchips for promoting collagen regenerating

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Polycaprolactone (PCL) microspheres are effective for collagen regeneration.
• Subcutaneous injection of PCL microspheres can cause significant initial inflammation.
• Reducing this inflammation is key to improving their safety and efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and fabricate Astragaloside (AS)-loaded PCL microspheres using microfluidic technology.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of AS/PCL microspheres for subcutaneous injection.
• To assess the potential of AS/PCL microspheres in promoting collagen regeneration while mitigating inflammation.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of AS/PCL microspheres via microfluidic technology.
• Characterization of microsphere properties (e.g., size, circularity, PDI).
• In vitro studies on fibroblast proliferation and migration, and in vivo pharmacodynamic studies.

Main Results:

• AS/PCL microspheres exhibited favorable characteristics: circularity index (0.90±0.03), particle size (30.45±5.49 μm), and PDI (0.26±0.03).
• Enhanced proliferation and migration of L929 fibroblasts observed.
• In vivo studies confirmed reduced initial inflammation and superior collagen regeneration compared to PCL microspheres alone.

Conclusions:

• Microfluidically fabricated AS/PCL microspheres demonstrate improved safety by reducing initial inflammation.
• The incorporation of Astragaloside promotes enhanced collagen regeneration.
• These AS/PCL microspheres represent a promising advancement for subcutaneous injection applications in regenerative medicine.