Biomaterials for Enhancing Neuronal Repair

Abstract

As they differentiate from neuroblasts, nascent neurons become highly polarized and elongate. Neurons extend and elaborate fine and fragile cellular extensions that form circuits enabling long-distance communication and signal integration within the body. While other organ systems are developing, projections of differentiating neurons find paths to distant targets. Subsequent post-developmental neuronal damage is catastrophic because the cues for reinnervation are no longer active. Advances in biomaterials are enabling fabrication of micro-environments that encourage neuronal regrowth and restoration of function by recreating these developmental cues. This mini-review considers new materials that employ topographical, chemical, electrical, and/or mechanical cues for use in neuronal repair. Manipulating and integrating these elements in different combinations will generate new technologies to enhance neural repair.

Substrate stiffness affects the morphology and gene expression of epidermal neural crest stem cells in a short term culture

“…In this study, both microscopic observation and FDA staining approved that the stem cells on <1 kPa substrate extended several dendrite-like processes with filopodiaenriched morphology and formed interconnected network structures. This result is in line with the findings of numerous studies which reported that the soft substrate can enhance neuritogenesis (Cangellaris & Gillette, 2018;Mosley et al, 2017) and it has been suggested that filamentous actin (F-actin) is the key factor in neuritogenesis whose organization is strongly regulated by substrate stiffness (Tanaka, Fujii, Kasai, Okajima, & Nakashima, 2018). In addition, our microscopic observations revealed that due to fast attachment of the cells to the softest surface, the mean cell area was higher compared to the CTRL group in the first hours of culture, but as cells attached to the stiff cell culture plate surface by 24 hr, they spread further and showed higher cell surface area compared to the soft one.…”

Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor-Transfected Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Repair of Periphery Nerve Injury

“…However, single neurotrophic factor is often not very effective ( Li et al, 2006 ; Cangellaris and Gillette, 2018 ). Various endogenous neurotrophic factors for nerve regeneration were reported ( Tajdaran et al, 2018 ; Liu et al, 2020 ).…”

Enhanced performance of chitosan/keratin membranes with potential application in peripheral nerve repair

“…It is of special interest that the matrix is not only mechanically strong enough to withstand the pressure after implantation, but also deformable enough. 63 On one hand, the presence of keratin decreased the stiffness related to CHT membranes. On the other hand, its presence increased the capacity to disperse energy when subjected to a tensile force, by increasing the damping properties.…”