Multi‐Omics Profiling Reveals Immunomodulatory and Pro‐Regenerative Effects of a Graphene Oxide–Collagen Scaffold in Massive Rotator Cuff Tears

Massive rotator cuff tears (MRCT) remain a clinical challenge, characterized by poor tendon-bone interface (TBI) healing, severe muscle degeneration, and high postoperative retear rates. Tissue engineering scaffolds offer promising alternatives, yet traditional biomaterials often lack sufficient bioactivity to orchestrate comprehensive tissue regeneration. Herein, we developed a novel graphene oxide (GO)-engineered porcine type I collagen (GO/Col) scaffold and systematically investigated its therapeutic efficacy and underlying molecular mechanisms via multi-omics analyses. Comprehensive characterization showed that GO incorporation improved scaffold stability, wettability, and biocompatibility. In vitro, the GO/Col scaffold enhanced mesenchymal stem cell adhesion and proliferation, promoted osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation, and suppressed adipogenesis. In a macrophage model system, GO/Col was associated with a shift toward a more reparative, anti-inflammatory phenotype. Using a clinically relevant chronic MRCT rat model, we observed that GO/Col scaffolds significantly improved motor function, biomechanical properties, and tendon-bone regeneration, while inhibiting muscle fibrosis and fatty infiltration. Mechanistically, integrated transcriptomics, proteomics, and mass cytometry analyses revealed GO-mediated modulation of critical signaling pathways involved in immune regulation, stem cell differentiation, and tissue regeneration. Notably, GO activated pro-osteogenic/chondrogenic pathways and anti-inflammatory signatures, while downregulating adipogenic and pro-inflammatory pathways. Collectively, these findings support the potential of GO/Col scaffolds as a bioactive tissue-engineering strategy for chronic MRCT repair.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Science
Published
2026-05-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202523821
Primary Topic
Tendon Structure and Treatment
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Multi‐Omics Profiling Reveals Immunomodulatory and Pro‐Regenerative Effects of a Graphene Oxide–Collagen Scaffold in Massive Rotator Cuff Tears

C Y Chen, J Y, Dan Wu, Yu Deng et al.
Advanced Science
Tendon Structure and Treatment
article

Multi‐Omics Profiling Reveals Immunomodulatory and Pro‐Regenerative Effects of a Graphene Oxide–Collagen Scaffold in Massive Rotator Cuff Tears

C Y Chen, J Y, Dan Wu, Yu Deng, X Li, Zhiwen Luo, Xinting Feng, James Hoi Po Hui, 包倪荣, Yuehua Chen, Kunlun Feng, Zhengyuan Fang, Zhijie Zhao, Y Q He, Zhufeng Hu, J J Qiu, Jie Mei, Gang Chen, Zhiheng Lin, Bowen Han, Xuanyong Liu, Shiyi Chen, Renwen Wan, Zixin Hu, Wei Luo
article en

Abstract

Massive rotator cuff tears (MRCT) remain a clinical challenge, characterized by poor tendon-bone interface (TBI) healing, severe muscle degeneration, and high postoperative retear rates. Tissue engineering scaffolds offer promising alternatives, yet traditional biomaterials often lack sufficient bioactivity to orchestrate comprehensive tissue regeneration. Herein, we developed a novel graphene oxide (GO)-engineered porcine type I collagen (GO/Col) scaffold and systematically investigated its therapeutic efficacy and underlying molecular mechanisms via multi-omics analyses. Comprehensive characterization showed that GO incorporation improved scaffold stability, wettability, and biocompatibility. In vitro, the GO/Col scaffold enhanced mesenchymal stem cell adhesion and proliferation, promoted osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation, and suppressed adipogenesis. In a macrophage model system, GO/Col was associated with a shift toward a more reparative, anti-inflammatory phenotype. Using a clinically relevant chronic MRCT rat model, we observed that GO/Col scaffolds significantly improved motor function, biomechanical properties, and tendon-bone regeneration, while inhibiting muscle fibrosis and fatty infiltration. Mechanistically, integrated transcriptomics, proteomics, and mass cytometry analyses revealed GO-mediated modulation of critical signaling pathways involved in immune regulation, stem cell differentiation, and tissue regeneration. Notably, GO activated pro-osteogenic/chondrogenic pathways and anti-inflammatory signatures, while downregulating adipogenic and pro-inflammatory pathways. Collectively, these findings support the potential of GO/Col scaffolds as a bioactive tissue-engineering strategy for chronic MRCT repair.

Advanced Science
Fujian Medical University (CN), National University of Singapore (SG), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (CN), Fudan University (CN), Renji Hospital (CN), Jiaxing University (CN), Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital (CN), Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CN), Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence (CN), Longhua Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CN), Zhongda Hospital Southeast University (CN), Ningde Normal University (CN), Yueyang Hospital (CN), Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (CN), First Hospital of Jiaxing (CN), Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital (CN), Huashan Hospital (CN), Shanghai Institute of Ceramics (CN), Nanjing Medical University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Instituto de Pesquisa Translacional em Saúde e Ambiente na Região Amazônica
Openalex Percentile: Top 5%
Tendon Structure and Treatment
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