Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 7, 2026
09:32
Electrospun Nanofiber Scaffolds with Gradations in Fiber Organization
Published on: April 19, 2015
10.3K
Advanced Hydrogel/Electrospun Nanofiber Composite Scaffold With Sequential Bioactive Factor Release for Rotator Cuff
Yiming Li1,2, Wei Song2, Lei Luo1
1School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Advanced Healthcare Materials
|December 26, 2025
Summary
This study introduces a novel scaffold for rotator cuff repair, using timed drug release to enhance healing. The composite material successfully accelerated tissue regeneration and integration in an animal model.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Rotator cuff repair is a complex process requiring coordinated tissue healing.
- Existing treatments lack advanced scaffolds for spatiotemporal control of healing phases.
- Need for biomaterials that support rotator cuff's intricate structure and sequential healing demands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and evaluate a novel injectable composite scaffold for enhanced rotator cuff repair.
- To investigate the synergistic effects of spatiotemporal release of bioactive molecules (SDF-1α and KGN) and biomaterials (SA/BG and PLGA).
- To assess the scaffold's efficacy in promoting fibrocartilage regeneration and tendon-to-bone integration.
Main Methods:
- Development of an injectable sodium alginate/bioactive glass (SA/BG) hydrogel loaded with stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α).
- Integration with a poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) electrospun membrane releasing kartogenin (KGN).
- Evaluation in a rat rotator cuff injury model to assess immunomodulation, cell recruitment, differentiation, and tissue regeneration.
Main Results:
- The composite scaffold (PLGA/KGN+SA/BG/SDF-1α) demonstrated sustained early release of bioactive glass ions and SDF-1α, facilitating immunomodulation and recruiting bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).
- KGN release after eight days promoted BMSC differentiation into chondrocytes and guided fibrocartilage formation and alignment.
- The scaffold significantly accelerated fibrocartilage regeneration and promoted targeted integration of new tissues with the tendon-to-bone insertion site in vivo.
Conclusions:
- The developed composite scaffold effectively addresses the biological requirements for rotator cuff repair by bridging injured tissues.
- The scaffold's tunable bioactivity and multilayered design enable synergistic interplay of structural cues and staged bioactivity.
- This advanced scaffold shows significant potential for regenerative medicine applications, particularly at complex tissue interfaces.
