Biodegradable poly(CL-co-TOSUO)/curcumin membrane: Biocompatibility and IL-6 suppression in atherosclerosis-relevant macrophage inflammation

Abstract

Atherosclerotic plaque instability, driven by macrophage-derived foam cells and exacerbated by interleukin-6 (IL-6), necessitates localized anti-inflammatory strategies. To address this, we developed curcumin-loaded poly(ε-caprolactone-co-4-ethylenediol ketal-ε-caprolactone) (PCT) membranes via electrospinning, characterizing their sustained drug release, biodegradability, and morphology through SEM. Comprehensive in vitro assessments included endothelial/macrophage viability assays, hemolysis testing, foam cell modeling using Ox-LDL (80 μg/mL for 48 h, optimized for IL-6 upregulation), and inflammatory cytokine quantification (IL-6/TNF-α/IFN-γ) via RT-qPCR. Subcutaneous implantation in rats enabled histological evaluation via HE staining and IL-6 immunohistochemistry. Our results demonstrated that curcumin-PCT membranes exhibited sustained drug release and biodegradability while maintaining exceptional hemocompatibility and endothelial safety. The membrane extracts significantly inhibited macrophage activity and downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines, with IL-6 suppression being the most pronounced. In vivo analyses corroborated these findings, showing reduced leukocyte infiltration and attenuated IL-6 expression compared to poly(ε-caprolactone) controls. Collectively, this study establishes curcumin-loaded PCT as a biocompatible platform with targeted efficacy against macrophage-driven vascular inflammation.