HA-coated collagen nanofibers for urethral regeneration via in situ polarization of M2 macrophages

• Published in: Journal of nanobiotechnology 2021-09, Vol.19 (1), p.283-283, Article 283
• Main Authors: Niu, Yuqing, Stadler, Florian J, Yang, Xu, Deng, Fuming, Liu, Guochang, Xia, Huimin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Angiogenesis; Animals; Blood vessels; Cell Proliferation; Cells (biology); Coatings; Collagen; Collagen - chemistry; Collagen - pharmacology; Collectors; Contact angle; Cytokines; Dogs; Elongation; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Fourier transforms; Genotype & phenotype; Health aspects; Hollow organs regeneration; Humans; Hyaluronic acid; Hyaluronic Acid - chemistry; Hyaluronic Acid - pharmacology; Immunofluorescence; Inflammation; M2 macrophage; Macrophages; Macrophages - drug effects; Male; Methods; Mice; Morphology; Nanofiber; Nanofibers; Nanofibers - chemistry; Nanofibers - therapeutic use; Nanoparticles; Phenotypes; Physiological aspects; Polyesters; Production processes; Progenitor cells; RAW 264.7 Cells; Regeneration; Regeneration (Biology); Scaffolds; Scanning electron microscopy; Softness; Stainless steel; Stains & staining; Stem cells; Tissue engineering; Tissue Engineering - methods; Tissue Scaffolds; Urethra; Urology; Wettability
• ISSN: 1477-3155; 1477-3155
• DOI: 10.1186/s12951-021-01000-5

In situ tissue engineering utilizes the regenerative potential of the human body to control cell function for tissue regeneration and has shown considerable prospect in urology. However, many problems are still to be understood, especially the interactions between scaffolds and host macrophages at the wound site and how these interactions direct tissue integration and regeneration. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of hyaluronic acid (HA) functionalized collagen nanofibers in modulating the pro-healing phenotype expression of macrophages for urethral regeneration. Tubular HA-collagen nanofibers with HA-coating were prepared by coaxial electrospinning. The formation of a thin HA-coating atop each collagen nanofiber endowed its nanofibrous mats with higher anisotropic wettability and mechanical softness. The macrophages growing on the surface of HA-collagen nanofibers showed an elongated shape, while collagen nanofibers' surface exhibited a pancake shape. Immunofluorescence and ELISA analysis showed that elongation could promote the expression of M2 phenotype marker and reduce the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. In vivo experiments showed that tubular HA-collagen nanofibers significantly facilitate male puppy urethral regeneration after injury. In the regenerated urethra bridged by tubular HA-collagen nanofibers, anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages are recruited to the surface of the scaffold, which can promote angiogenesis and endogenous urothelial progenitor cell proliferation.