Multifunctional BBR/PVA@PLGA coaxial electrospun membranes with osteogenic, angiogenic and barrier activities for potential bone regeneration

Abstract Maxillofacial bone defects present a significant clinical challenge. Although guided bone regeneration (GBR) is widely employed, the therapeutic efficacy of conventional barrier membranes remains limited due to their lack of multifunctional bioactivity. To address this, a novel coaxial electrospun barrier membrane was fabricated, featuring a berberine hydrochloride (BBR)-loaded polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) core and a poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) shell (denoted as BBR/PVA@PLGA). The membrane exhibited a well-defined nanostructure, suitable hydrophilicity, controllable degradation, favorable mechanical properties, and sustained drug release. In vitro studies confirmed its excellent cytocompatibility with MC3T3-E1, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and L929 cells and its ability to promote cell migration. Functionally, the membrane significantly enhanced osteogenic differentiation and mineralization in pre-osteoblasts, accompanied by the upregulation of osteogenic gene expression. It also promoted angiogenic activity in endothelial cells, supported by increased expression of pro-angiogenic genes and improved tube formation. Moreover, the membrane served as an effective physical barrier, preventing cellular infiltration. In summary, this multifunctional BBR/PVA@PLGA coaxial electrospun membrane concurrently supports osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and barrier functions in vitro , demonstrating promising potential as a candidate biomaterial for future application in maxillofacial bone defect regeneration.