Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Injection site dictates the immune response to a biodegradable polymer and corresponding collagen regeneration

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.04.004

Figure Lengend Snippet: LA released from T-gel degradation induces macrophage M2 polarization and promotes fibroblast activation and collagen production. (A) Flow cytometry analysis of the association between T-gel degradation products and macrophage M2 polarization ( n = 3, data represent mean ± s.d.). ∗∗∗∗P < 0.0001. (B) RNA-seq analysis of M2 macrophage marker expression in tissues one week after ID and SC injection of T-gel. (C–D) Immunofluorescence analysis of CD206 (C) and FAPα (D) expression in tissues ( n = 3, data represent mean ± s.d.). ∗∗P < 0.01. (E) Schematic diagram of the co-culture system showing RAW264.7 macrophages pretreated with T-gel extract medium that were subsequently co-cultured with L929 fibroblasts. (F–G) Collagen expression in L929 cells from the co-culture system assessed by Western blot (F) and ELISA (G). “C” represents RAW264.7 pretreated with blank medium; “T” represents RAW264.7 pretreated with T-gel extract medium. n = 3, data represent mean ± s.d. ∗P < 0.05 and ∗∗P < 0.01. (H) ELISA analysis of TGFβ expression in RAW264.7 cells treated with T-gel extract medium ( n = 3, data represent mean ± s.d.). ∗∗P < 0.01. (I) Schematic representation of LA, released during T-gel degradation, programming macrophages toward an M2 phenotype and subsequently promoting fibroblast activation and collagen secretion.

Article Snippet: Following permeabilization, cells were stained with Phycoerythrin (PE)-conjugated anti-mouse CD206 antibody (Elabscience, E-AB-F1135D) for 30 min at 4 °C in the dark.

Techniques: Activation Assay, Flow Cytometry, RNA Sequencing, Marker, Expressing, Injection, Immunofluorescence, Co-Culture Assay, Cell Culture, Western Blot, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay