Large-Scale Nanofiber Manufacturing| Synergistic Functions of the Janus Fibrous Membrane for Enhanced BoneRepair

Professor Wang Yan (Sun Yat-sen University): Janus Fibrous Membrane with Synergistic Functions for Enhanced Bone Repair

The treatment of bone defects, a common challenge in clinical practice, is currently a research hotspot. In recent years, artificial scaffold materials have seen increasing applications in clinical bone repair. However, issues such as poor biocompatibility, insufficient mechanical properties, lack of antibacterial performance, and inadequate osteogenic effects have hindered the widespread use of artificial scaffold materials.

Recently, the team of Professor Wang Yan and Dr. Zhang Tingting from Sun Yat-sen University published a new research achievement "Synergistic Functions of the Janus Fibrous Membrane for Enhanced Bone Repair" in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. The researchers designed a Janus fibrous membrane via gradient electrospinning and photocrosslinking technologies. This material system achieves synergistic integration of physiological barrier function, antibacterial performance, and osteogenesis promotion, with its distinct functional layers exhibiting unique compositional differences and structural characteristics. 

Figure 1: Schematic diagram of the design and fabrication of the Janus fibrous membrane for bone regeneration.

By controlling electrospinning parameters, the classical amphiphilic block copolymer mPEG-b-PLGA was electrospun to form a loose porous inner layer, while mPEG-b-PLGA and methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) were electrospun and photocrosslinked to form a dense outer layer. Due to the amphiphilic block copolymer composition of both inner and outer layers, a natural transition exists between the two layers.Antibacterial components (ε-PL) loaded in the outer layer effectively exert antibacterial activity. Combined with the outer layer’s special dense structure, they act as a physiological barrier to prevent ingrowth of non-osteogenic cells, while their compositional properties ensure normal cell adhesion and proliferation. Introducing bioactive components (Nb₂O₅) into the inner layer structure promotes bone regeneration. The antibacterial and osteogenic effects of the Janus fibrous membrane were analyzed using animal models of normal cranial defects and infected mandibular defects to explore its applicability in different environments and provide references for clinical bone defect treatment.

Figure 2: Physicochemical property evaluation of the Janus fibrous membrane.

Figure 3: Evaluation of the barrier function of the Janus fibrous membrane.

Figure 4: In vivo evaluation of osteogenic and antibacterial properties of the Janus fibrous membrane.

In vitro tests show that the designed Janus fibrous membrane has good biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and degradation performance. In vivo experimental results confirm the biosafety of the Janus fibrous membrane. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that the Janus fibrous membrane has superior osteogenic performance, excellent antibacterial ability, and barrier function. The Janus fibrous membrane can serve as an effective multifunctional platform to overcome the limitations of current commercial collagen membranes in antibacterial, osteogenic, and barrier properties.