Chitosan and ibuprofen functionalized electrospun nanofiber membrane modulates inflammatory response and promotes full-thickness abdominal wall repair

Electrospun nanofiber membranes are promising for abdominal wall repair. Our previous studies have shown that while electrospun nanofiber-bundle membranes promote cellular and tissue infiltration through their porous architecture, they also induce an elevated foreign body response (FBR) that impedes tissue integration and remodeling. In this study, we functionalized electrospun polylactic acid (PLA)/gelatin (Gel) nanofiber-bundle membrane with chitosan (CS) and ibuprofen (IBU) to improve its biological performance for abdominal wall repair. Our results demonstrate that grafted CS and IBU functionalize the PLA/Gel membrane with antibacterial and antioxidant capacity. The PLA/Gel-CS-IBU membrane showed good biocompatibility as evidenced by in vitro cell studies, blood compatibility assessments, and subcutaneous implantation. It exhibited strong anti-inflammatory activity and modulated macrophage polarization toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype. CS-IBU grafting downregulated pro-inflammatory gene expression induced by the porous electrospun membrane surface, decreased oxidative products from activated macrophages, and upregulated anti-inflammatory genes. By markedly suppressing inflammatory responses and stimulating tissue regeneration, it facilitated effective tissue remodeling in a rat full-thickness abdominal wall model. These results support its potential as a novel surgical mesh material for clinical abdominal wall repair.