Xiaoyu Wu,1,2 Chun Liu,2 Yuqing Jiang,2 Ting Dai,1,2 Linxiang Zhang,1,2 Jiafeng Wang,1,2 Hongbin Zhao1,2 

1Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-Care Hospital, Gansu Provincial Central Hospital, Gansu, People’s Republic of China; 2Changzhou Medical Center, The Affiliated Changzhou Second People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Hongbin Zhao, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital, Gansu Provincial Central Hospital, Gansu, 730070, People’s Republic of China, Email zhao761032@163.com

Background: Salidroside (SAL) is the most effective component of Rhodiola rosea, a traditional Chinese medicine. Cryptotanshinone (CT) is the main fat-soluble extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza, exhibiting considerable potential for application in osteogenesis. Herein, a polycaprolactone/gelatin nanofiber membrane loaded with CT and SAL (PSGC membrane) was successfully fabricated via coaxial electrospinning and characterized.
Methods and Results: This membrane capable of sustained and controlled drug release was employed in this study. Co-culturing the membrane with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells revealed excellent biocompatibility and demonstrated osteogenic and angiogenic capabilities. Furthermore, drug release from the PSGC membrane activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and promoted osteogenic differentiation and vascularization. Evaluation of the membrane’s vascularization and osteogenic capacities involved transplantation onto a rat’s subcutaneous area and assessing rat cranium defects for bone regeneration, respectively. Microcomputed tomography, histological tests, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining confirmed the membrane’s outstanding angiogenic capacity two weeks post-operation, with a higher incidence of osteogenesis observed in rat cranial defects eight weeks post-surgery.
Conclusion: Overall, the SAL- and CT-loaded coaxial electrospun nanofiber membrane synergistically enhances bone repair and regeneration.

Keywords: gelatin, coaxial electrospinning, vascularization and bone regeneration