Electrospun scaffold with L-Arginine and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles for periodontitis therapy

Abstract

This study presents the development of a multifunctional guided bone regeneration (GBR) membrane for periodontal therapy by electrospinning polycaprolactone (PCL) with L-arginine (L-Arg) and nanohydroxyapatite (nHA). While existing GBR membranes often lack sufficient bioactivity, our approach integrates immunomodulatory and osteoconductive functionalities into a single scaffold. Two membrane types, PCL/L-Arg (PCA) and PCL/L-Arg/nHA (PCAH), were fabricated and evaluated for morphology, mechanical properties, and biological performance. The PCAH membranes exhibited improved tensile strength, enhanced hydrophilicity, and sustained release of L-Arg, leading to greater cell viability and NO production. Furthermore, PCAH scaffolds promoted anti-inflammatory cytokine expression while reducing pro-inflammatory markers in macrophages. These features suggest that the inclusion of nHA not only reinforces the scaffold structurally but also supports immunomodulation and bone regeneration. Our findings highlight the novelty of combining L-Arg and nHA in a PCL-based electrospun scaffold for dual osteoimmunomodulatory performance, offering a promising platform for advanced periodontal regeneration. Future in vivo studies are warranted to validate clinical applicability.