Fully Bio-friendly Hybrid Chitosan Fibrous Membranes for Postoperative Anti-adhesion: Green Fabrication and Comprehensive Performance Evaluation

Abstract

Despite progress in anti-adhesion bio-based membranes, challenges such as poor mechanical strength, reliance on toxic solvents, and slow degradation still hinder clinical translation. Here, we present a green strategy to fabricate fully bio-friendly chitosan-based fibrous membranes (CFiMs) via solution blow spinning (SBS) using water-soluble catechol-modified chitosan (CS-C) and polyethylene oxide (PEO). By optimizing the water–ethanol ratio and precursor rheology, uniform membranes were obtained. To further reinforce their properties, catechol-functionalized hydroxyapatite (C-Hap) was incorporated, yielding organic–inorganic hybrid fibrous membranes (HFiMs). Owing to strong interfacial compatibility and synergistic interactions, HFiMs displayed tunable strength (3.21–17.45 MPa), rapid dry-to-hydrogel transition, controlled biodegradation, and excellent cytocompatibility. In vitro and in vivo studies confirmed their ability to suppress fibroblast activation, reduce inflammation, and prevent fibroblast infiltration, primarily by inhibiting myofibroblast differentiation through Wnt5a pathway modulation. This work establishes a safe and sustainable SBS platform for bio-friendly HFiMs and highlights their promise in tendon anti-adhesion therapy.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

Water–ethanol binary system / Organic–inorganic hybrid / Chitosan-based fibrous membranes / High-performance / Anti-adhesion

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Funding

Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2232024Y-01)

National Natural Science Foundation of China(52373098)

National Key Research and Development Program Projects of China(2024YFC2418100)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Donghua University, Shanghai, China

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