Fig 2: Experimental design. (A) Functionalization of 3D scaffolds with CMINF (3D+CMINF), production of released media (CMR) at different time points (6, 24, 48, 72 h, and 7 d), and quantification of AREG from the collected CMR. (B) Biological activity assessment of 3D+CMINF (direct effect) and each CMR collected at different time points: 6, 24, 48, 72 h, and 7 d (indirect effect) on activated PBMCs and Jurkat cells after 48 h of culture. Analysis of the 3D+CMINF influence on macrophage polarization was performed on total, scaffold-adherent, and supernatant fractions.

Fig 3: Histograms representing (A) the FE (%) of CMINF total proteins absorbed on the 3D scaffolds subjected to three different functionalization methods: PA, HCl, and NaOH pretreatments; and (B) AREG quantification in CMINF (red line) or adsorbed on the 3D scaffold functionalized with PA or NaOH pre-activation. * Statistically significant between groups for p < 0.05.

Fig 4: Chemical characterization of 3D scaffolds before and after functionalization. Infrared spectra for (A) liquid (SF, SF+AREG, and CMINF), (B) PA, (C) HCl, and (D) NaOH-treated PLGA scaffolds, functionalized or not with SF+AREG and CMINF, and reported in the 650 and 4000 cm−1.