A break of extracellular matrix (ECM) balance can cause several degenerative changes in soft tissues. To reverse the imbalance fundamentally, a recently developed treatment, gene therapy, came to attention. However, the efficiency of the approach is limited because long‐term localized presence and bioactivity are difficult to achieve. Here, reconstituted lysyl oxidase‐like 1 (LOXL1) plasmids (pLOXL1) are loaded into nanoliposomes by a microfluidic chip, followed by encapsulation into the core layer of core–shell nanofibers by microsol‐electrospinning to achieve local accumulation and biological availability of the constructs and enable rapid ECM response. Results show that the pLOXL1‐Lipo@PLCL‐HA achieves the sustained release of pLOXL1 over a 30‐day period, with its transfection efficiency maintained above 50%. In a rabbit model of abdominal hernia, the long‐term collagen remodeling density is raised by over 90% in the pLOXL1‐Lipo@PLCL‐HA implanted animals compared to the control animals. The expression levels of ECM gene (COL1A1, COL3A1, Elastin, Fubilin5) are significantly increased. Collectively, this study establishes that pLOXL1‐Lipo@PLCL‐HA accelerates local ECM reconstruction via effective and reliable gene delivery as a potential base material of a “patch” for pelvic floor repairment, and identifies the key principles for design of LOXL1‐incorporated scaffolds for ECM regeneration.
Non‐invasive recovery of loose soft tissue caused by trauma, organ expansion, or compression has not been solved properly. Herein, a new approach of heat‐shrinkable electrospun fibrous tape (HS‐EFT) is constructed via electrospinning in which the contraction of the poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) HS‐EFT causes the relaxed fascia to pull back at body temperature while the mechanical force of retraction is transformed into an external signal that regulates the behavior of fibroblasts. As it contracts more than 40% within five days, the fast proliferation of fibroblasts on the contracted fibrous membrane is observed followed by the formation of more stress fibers, consequently promoting the nuclear transfer of mechanical stimulation‐sensitive co‐transcriptional molecule, yes‐associated protein (YAP), and eventually making new extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, as well as tissue strengthen. Moreover, in the process of fascia defect repairing in rabbits, the loose tissue is gathered by fibrous tape which ends in a reduced wound area as well as tissue repairing. Therefore, the HS‐EFT provides great inspiration for the reconstruction of relaxed soft tissue both structurally and functionally in a non‐invasive way.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.