Coaxially electrospun silk fibroin scaffold incorporating kartogenin via β-cyclodextrin for rotator cuff repair

Rotator cuff tears (RCT) constitute a prevalent and clinically challenging musculoskeletal pathology. Medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, only alleviate symptoms without addressing the underlying cause, and their delivery efficiency is relatively low. Surgical interventions often fail to restore the native gradient structure of the tendon-bone interface and are frequently associated with postoperative pain and high re-tear rates. To overcome these challenges, this study developed a silk fibroin (SF)-based nanofiber membrane. The material features a core-shell structure, with SF and P(CL@LLA) as the shell layer and PLGA as the core layer to enhance mechanical toughness. Additionally, a kartogenin (KGN) delivery system was incorporated, in which the chondrogenic factor is encapsulated within β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). This system addresses the issue of low drug utilization caused by poor solubility and mitigates the impact of burst release on long-term therapeutic efficacy. The results demonstrate that the material exhibits sustained drug release properties and exerts promising effects in promoting cell differentiation and tissue repair in both in vitro and in vivo assays.