Fabrication and characterization of metformin-loaded PLGA/Collagen nanofibers for modulation of macrophage polarization for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

In tissue engineering (TE) and regenerative medicine, the accessibility of engineered scaffolds that modulate inflammatory states is extremely necessary. The aim of the current work was to assess the efficacy of metformin (MET) incorporated in PLGA/Collagen nanofibers (Met-PLGA/Col NFs) to modulate RAW264.7 macrophage phenotype from pro-inflammatory status (M1) to anti-inflammatory status (M2). Given this, MET-PLGA/Col NFs were fabricated using an electrospinning technique. Structural characterization such as morphology, chemical and mechanical properties, and drug discharge pattern were assessed. MTT assay test exposed that MET-PLGA/Col NFs remarkably had increased cell survival in comparison with pure PLGA/Collagen NFs and control (p < 0.05) 72 h after incubation. Based on the qPCR assay, a reduction in the expression of iNOS-2 and SOCS3 was found in the cells seeded on MET-PLGA/Col NFs, demonstrating the substantial modulation of the M1 phenotype to the M2 phenotype. Moreover, it was determined a main decrease in the pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediator’s expression but the growth factors amount related to anti-inflammatory M2 were meaningfully upregulated. Finally, MET-PLGA/Col NFs possibly will ensure a beneficial potential for effective variation of the macrophage response from an inflammatory phase (M1) to a pro-regenerative (M2) phase.