Functional remodeling and prolonged anti-inflammatory
responses
are both vital for repairing damage in the cardiovascular system.
Although these aspects have each been studied extensively alone, attempts
to fabricate scaffolds that combine these effects have seen limited
success. In this study, we synthesized salvianic acid A (SA, danshensu)
blocked biodegradable polyurethane (PCHU-D) and enclosed it within
electrospun nanofibers to synthesize a durable immunomodulatory nanofiber
niche (DINN), which provided sustained SA release during inflammation.
Given its excellent processability, mechanical properties, and shape
memory function, we developed two variants of the DINN as vascular
scaffolds and heart patches. Both these variants exhibited outstanding
therapeutic effects in in vivo experiments. The DINN
was expertly designed such that it gradually decomposes along with
SA release, substantially facilitating cellular infiltration and tissue
remodeling. Therefore, the DINN effectively inhibited the migration
and chemotaxis of inflammatory cells, while also increasing the expression
of angiogenic genes. As a result, it promoted the recovery of myocardial
function after myocardial infarction and induced rapid reendothelialization
following arterial orthotopic transplantation repair. These excellent
characteristics indicate that the DINN holds great potential as a
multifunctional agent for repairing cardiovascular tissues.