The Regenerative Role of Gelatin in PLLA Electrospun Membranes for the Treatment of Chronic Massive Rotator Cuff Injuries

Abstract

Failing to regenerate native tendon tissue in chronic massive rotator cuff tears (CMRCTs) results in high retear rates after surgery. Gelatin is a hydrolyzed form of collagen which is bioactive and biocompatible. This study intends to investigate the suitability of integrating gelatin to poly (l‐lactic acid) (PLLA) fibrous membranes for promoting the healing of CMRCTs. PLLA/Gelatin electrospun membranes (PGEM) are fabricated using electrospinning technology. The fourier transform infrared, static contact angles are tested sequentially. Cytocompatibility is evaluated with rat tendon fibroblasts and human umbilical endothelial cells (HUEVCs) lines. CMRCTs rat models are established and assigned into three groups (the sham group, the repaired group, and the augmentation group) to perform histomorphological and biomechanical evaluations. Gelatin is successfully integrated into PLLA fibrous membranes by the electrospinning technique. In vitro studies indicate that PGEM shows a great cytocompatibility for rat tendon fibroblasts and HUEVCs. In vivo studies find that applications of PGEM significantly promote well‐aligned collagen I fibers formation and enhance biomechanical properties of the repaired tendon in CMRCTs rat models. In summary, gelatin promotes tendon fibroblasts and HUEVCs adhesion, migration, and proliferation on the PLLA fibrous membranes, and PGEM may provide a great prospect for clinical application.

Advancements in Regenerative Medicine for Aesthetic Dermatology: A Comprehensive Review and Future Trends

“…PLLA is an alpha hydroxy acid polymer of the L-Lactic Acid that has been used in regenerative medicine for more than 30 years [54,129,130]. The most known property of PLLA is volume restoration [54,131], but its ability to induce collagen synthesis has also positioned it as a tool in regenerative medicine [132,133]. In the field of rejuvenation, PLLA has been used for years, in numerous clinical trials in different areas and indications (Table 2), not only for volume enhancement but also for contouring and wrinkle correction [131,134,135].…”

Biodegradable Polymer Electrospinning for Tendon Repairment

“…Common natural biodegradable polymers used for tendon tissue engineering include collagen, silk protein, gelatin, hyaluronic acid, etc. [ 27 ]. In tissue engineering, natural biodegradable polymers are used to prepare tissue scaffolds, which can be combined with growth factors [ 28 ] and stem cells [ 29 ], or used as drug carriers [ 30 ] to reconstruct the natural microenvironment of tendons [ 31 ] and help cell adhesion, growth, and differentiation [ 32 ].…”

“…It significantly improves the infiltration, adhesion, spread, and proliferation of cells on tissue-engineered scaffolds and has low immunogenicity and biodegradability [ 39 ]. Liu et al [ 27 ] prepared membranes made from gelatin using the electrostatic spinning technique with micron-sized 3D structures, which significantly promoted the regeneration of type I collagen in a rat chronic rotator cuff tear model. The gelatin scaffolds prepared using electrostatic spinning showed good cytocompatibility and were able to mimic the natural tendon tissue microenvironment to accelerate tendon healing and repair after damage.…”

Advanced Nanofiber-Based Scaffolds for Achilles Tendon Regenerative Engineering

“…Moreover, natural polymers blended with synthetic polymers increase their mechanical strength and promote tissue regeneration ( Jayasree et al, 2019 ; Lim et al, 2021 ; Liu et al, 2022 ). The combination of natural and synthetic polymers can maximize the benefits of each biomaterial, allowing the composite scaffold to possess significant properties ( Nikolova and Chavali, 2019 ).…”