Electrospun PCL/MoS2 Nanofiber Membranes Combined with NIR-Triggered Photothermal Therapy to Accelerate Bone Regeneration

Abstract

Electrospun nanofiber membranes have been widely used for guided bone regeneration (GBR). For assistance in bone healing, photothermal therapy which renders moderate heat stimulation to defect regions by near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation has attracted much attention in recent years. Combined with photothermal therapy, novel electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone)/molybdenum disulfide (PCL/MoS₂ ) nanofiber membranes are innovatively synthesized as GBR for bone therapy, wherein the exfoliated MoS₂ nanosheets served as osteogenic enhancers and NIR photothermal agents. With the doping of MoS₂ , the mechanical properties of nanofiber membranes got improved with the degradation unaffected. The composite PCL/MoS₂ membranes show enhanced cell growth and osteogenic performance compared with PCL alone. Under NIR-triggered mild photothermal therapy, osteogenesis and bone healing are accelerated by using PCL/MoS₂ nanofiber membranes for growth of bone mesenchymal stem cells in vitro and repair of rat tibia bone defect in vivo. The novel nanofiber membranes may be developed as intelligent GBR in the therapy of bone defects.

Keywords: electrostatic spinning; guided bone regeneration; molybdenum disulfide; photothermal therapy; poly(ε-caprolactone).