Biomimetic “Tendon Band-Aid” regulates inflammatory microenvironment and tenogenic differentiation for tendinopathy regeneration

Abstract

Tendinopathy (TDP) is a common yet challenging chronic degenerative condition characterized by disrupted inflammatory microenvironments, cellular dysfunction and tissue structural degradation. Drawing inspiration from the protective and drug-releasing functions of adhesive bandages, this study has developed a biomimetic "Tendon Band-Aid" using electrospinning and photocrosslinking techniques to modulate anti-inflammatory and regenerative processes within the tendon microenvironment. Gelatin methacrylate and gelatin vanillin hydrogel fibers (GV) were used as nanofiber patches to cover damaged tendons, enabling the sustained release of ibuprofen (ibu) within the local inflammatory microenvironment. In vitro experiments confirmed that the biomimetic "Tendon Band-Aid" (GV@ibu) effectively alleviates local inflammatory responses by inhibiting the AGEs/NF-κB/COX-2 pathway and guiding tendon stem cells (TSCs) towards tenogenic differentiation. It also promotes the reorganization of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In vivo studies further demonstrate the patch's ability to significantly improve collagen tissue structure and restore motor function in tendinopathy models. Consequently, this multifunctional GV@ibu patch, which combines inflammation resolution and tenogenesis, shows great potential as an ideal solution for the regenerative repair of tendinopathies.