2. Academic Validation
  3. Optimal Se content on P/G-EGCG@Se nanofibers reverses muscle-derived IL-6- induced osteogenesis depression

Optimal Se content on P/G-EGCG@Se nanofibers reverses muscle-derived IL-6- induced osteogenesis depression

  • Biomater Adv. 2026 Jul:184:214814. doi: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2026.214814.
Weichao Gui 1,  Yan Deng 2,  Xiaolong Zhang 3,  Yangyang Li 4,  Qisen Wang 4,  Xiaoting Jian 4,  Jingwen Huang 4,  Ziwei Zhao 4,  Qianqian Yu 5,  Hua Liao 6,  Jijie Hu 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Division of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Department of Orthopaedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
  • 2 South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Emergent Soft Matter, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional and Intelligent Hybrid Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510641, China.
  • 3 Division of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Department of Orthopaedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Department of Orthopaedics, University-Town Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 401331, China.
  • 4 Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
  • 5 South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Emergent Soft Matter, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional and Intelligent Hybrid Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510641, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 6 Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 7 Division of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Department of Orthopaedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 41832820 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2026.214814
Abstract

Objective: To develop electrospun polycaprolactone/gelatin (P/G) nanofibers modified with epigallocatechin gallate‑selenium nanoparticles (EGCG@Se) and evaluate their osteogenic effects in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: P/G nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning, and EGCG@Se nanoparticles were synthesized using cysteine as a reducing agent. Composite fibers were formed by surface deposition and characterized using SEM, WCA, EDS, FTIR, AFM, and mechanical tests. In vitro, MSCs and MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured on P/G-EGCG@Se fibers under osteogenic induction. A tibial defect model in KM mice was used for in vivo osteogenic evaluation. Gene and protein expression were analyzed by qPCR, Western blot and ELISA.

Results: P/G fibers with an 8:2 weight ratio and 12 kV voltage exhibited optimal properties. EGCG@Se enhanced MSCs viability, adhesion and osteogenic differentiation. In vitro, 7.5 μg/mL Se-loaded fibers showed the best osteoinductive effect. However in vivo, 15 μg/mL Se-loaded fibers resulted in the optimal tibial defect repair, which significantly suppressed IL-6 expression in skeletal muscle. In vitro co-culturing test demonstrated that Se content in P/G-EGCG@Se nanofibers controls IL-6 production in muscle fibers.

Conclusions: The special physicochemical properties of P/G-EGCG@Se fibers, assisted by bone repair effects of EGCG, and by the optimal Se content induced IL-6 level reduction from muscle tissue, contribute to the efficient bone defect healing in vivo.

Keywords

IL-6; Osteogenisis; P/G-EGCG@Se nanofiber; Skeletal muscle.

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