Diblock Copolymer Engineered Swim Bladder Membrane Enables Spatiotemporal Synchronized Defense and Pro-Healing in Challenging Soft Tissue Regeneration.

Abstract

The exposed and microbe-rich microenvironment requires the soft tissue regeneration materials to balance conflicting characteristics, including biodegradation, mechanical stability, and biological activity. Herein, this research engineers a glycoprotein-inspired soft tissue regeneration membrane by precisely grafting the diblock copolymer from a robust fish swim bladder collagen matrix via surface-initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. Benefitting from the naturally dense fibrous network and in situ crosslinking, the modified collagen membrane maintains structural integrity and mechanical support prior to tissue maturation, followed by progressive degradation to facilitate new tissue replacement. More importantly, the grafted diblock copolymer orchestrates a spatiotemporal synchronized defense and pro-healing efficacy. It not only maintains microbial homeostasis while constructing a hydration-based exclusion barrier against pathogenic biofilms, but also activates integrin-mediated cell adhesion and various regeneration-related behaviors. Consequently, this sophisticated design harmonizes degradation kinetics and anti-biofilm efficacy with the spatiotemporal demands of healing. As a result, the diblock copolymer engineered swim bladder membrane transcends passive scaffolding, offering comprehensive and active protection and promotion for challenging soft tissue regeneration.