Multifunctional polycaprolactone-based composite fibers with icariin and glutathione for effective repair of critical-sized bone defects

Theodor Bilharz Research Institute

Bibliographic Information

Authors: Yessuf A.M.; Zhang Y.; Sharma B.P.; Wang Y.; Kassa T.S.; Qadir A.; Jinqiu Y.; Mohideen M.M.; Salama A.M.; Wang W.; Zhang Q.; Liu Y.

Journal: BMEMat

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Inc

Publication Date: 30 July 2026

ISSN: 27517438

DOI: 10.1002/bmm2.70115

Scopus: View on Scopus

Document Type: Article

Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access

Authors and Affiliations

Yessuf A.M., Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China; Zhang Y., Henan Provincial Orthopedic Hospital, Henan, Zhengzhou, China; Sharma B.P., Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Process and Technology of Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China; Wang Y., Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China; Kassa T.S., Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China; Qadir A., Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China; Jinqiu Y., Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China; Mohideen M.M., Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China; Salama A.M., Unit of nanotechnology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt; Wang W., Orthopedic Surgery Department, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China; Zhang Q., Orthopedic Surgery Department, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China; Liu Y., Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China

Abstract

Healing of critical-sized bone defects is often delayed by oxidative stress and inadequate vascularization. To address this challenge, we developed a multifunctional electrospun polycaprolactone-based scaffold, functionalized with Icariin and Glutathione (PCL@GSH@ICA) to enhance bone regeneration. Glutathione is a strong scavenger of reactive oxygen species, and Icariin provided sustained osteo-angiogenic cues. The scaffold was systematically characterized for morphology, mechanical performance, and drug release, and evaluated through cell experiments, animal experiments, and theoretical studies. The cell experiment under oxidative stress conditions revealed that the scaffold supports osteogenic differentiation, endothelial angiogenesis, and bone marrow stromal cell proliferation. Animal studies demonstrate that nearly complete closure of rat calvarial defects has been achieved by PCL@GSH@ICA after 12 weeks of treatment. Upregulation of osteogenic (RUNX2, OCN) and angiogenic (VEGF, CD31) markers was confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction test. Density functional theory (DFT) analysis indicated a stable electronic structure, and molecular docking suggested favorable interactions of Icariin and Glutathione with osteogenic and angiogenic proteins. Generally, these findings establish PCL@GSH@ICA as a multifunctional, cell-free scaffold that accelerates bone regeneration by integrating osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and redox regulation. © 2026 The Author(s). BMEMat published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Shandong University.

Keywords

angiogenesis; bone regeneration; glutathione; icariin; osteogenesis; oxidative stress; PCL scaffold; Animals; Bone; Cell proliferation; Defects; Density functional theory; Design for testability; Drug delivery; Drug products; Electronic assessment; Endothelial cells; Polycaprolactone; Polymerase chain reaction; Scaffolds (biology); Tissue regeneration; Bone defect; Composite fibres; Gluthathione; Multifunctionals; Osteogenic

Citation Information

Scopus Citations: 0

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