Oriented Fibers Cooperate with DFO to Prevent Tendon Adhesions by Improving the Repair Microenvironment

Abstract

To solve the problem of tendon adhesion after an operation, an anti‐adhesion membrane is designed, which can inhibit the exogenous healing of tendons and promote endogenous healing. Here, poly[3(S)‐methyl‐morpholine‐2,5‐dione‐co‐lactic acid] P(MMD‐co‐LA) containing alanine units is obtained by melt ring‐opening polymerization (ROP). It can effectively reduce the production of acidic degradation products that cause aseptic inflammation. Then a kind of oriented P(MMD‐co‐LA)/deferoxamine (DFO) anti‐adhesion membrane with good mechanical properties, cell adhesion properties, and induced macrophage polarization properties is constructed by electrospinning. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that oriented fibrous membranes can down‐regulate the expression of inflammatory cytokines. In addition, the fibrous membrane can up‐regulate the expression of angiogenesis‐related genes, namely HIF1‐α, SDF‐1α, and VEGF, by releasing DFO in situ, thus promoting the revascularization of tendon defects and providing nutritional support for endogenous tendon healing. This method provides a new barrier strategy to reduce tendon adhesion through anti‐inflammation combined with vascularization to inhibit exogenous tendon healing while promoting tendon endogenous healing. The results provide essential insights into the corresponding regulation of the tendon healing microenvironment.