Polycaprolactone electrospun fiber scaffold loaded with iPSCs-NSCs and ASCs as a novel tissue engineering scaffold for the treatment of spinal cord injury

Abstract

BackgroundSpinal cord injury (SCI) is a traumatic disease of the central nervous system, accompanied with high incidence and high disability rate. Tissue engineering scaffold can be used as therapeutic systems to provide effective repair for SCI.PurposeIn this study, a novel tissue engineering scaffold has been synthesized in order to explore the effect of nerve repair on SCI.Patients and methodsPolycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds loaded with actived Schwann cells (ASCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells -derived neural stem cells (iPSC-NSCs), a combined cell transplantation strategy, were prepared and characterized. The cell-loaded PCL scaffolds were further utilized for the treatment of SCI in vivo. Histological observation, behavioral evaluation, Western-blot and qRT-PCR were used to investigate the nerve repair of Wistar rats after scaffold transplantation.ResultsThe iPSCs displayed similar characteristics to embryonic stem cells and were efficiently differentiated into neural stem cells in vitro. The obtained PCL scaffolds werê0.5 mm in thickness with biocompatibility and biodegradability. SEM results indicated that the ASCs and (or) iPS-NSCs grew well on PCL scaffolds. Moreover, transplantation reduced the volume of lesion cavity and improved locomotor recovery of rats. In addition, the degree of spinal cord recovery and remodeling maybe closely related to nerve growth factor and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor. In summary, our results demonstrated that tissue engineering scaffold treatment could increase tissue remodeling and could promote motor function recovery in a transection SCI model.ConclusionThis study provides preliminary evidence for using tissue engineering scaffold as a clinically viable treatment for SCI in the future.

Recent Progress in the Regeneration of Spinal Cord Injuries by Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

“…The electrospinning technique to synthesize a biocompatible and biodegradable novel poly- caprolactone (PCL) scaffold was used also by Zhou et al [39]. The PCL scaffold was coated with Schwann cells and iPSC-NPCs and transplanted into in vivo SCI rat model.…”

Abnormal DNA Methylation in Thoracic Spinal Cord Tissue Following Transection Injury

“…Microenvironmental imbalances are often accompanied by increased inhibitory factors, loss of neurons, filling of glial cells and reduction of promoting factors at different times and spaces [6]. Multiple cells combined with different nutritional factors or scaffolds have become the focus of spinal cord injury repair [7]. However, treatment with cells, surgery, or medication have been unable to completely cure spinal cord injuries [8].…”

<p>Selenium-Doped Carbon Quantum Dots Efficiently Ameliorate Secondary Spinal Cord Injury via Scavenging Reactive Oxygen Species</p>

“…The 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, and FTIR spectra ( Figures S2, S3 and S4) indicated that the Se-CQDs had different chemical structures from those of the precursor molecule, L-selenocystine, which confirmed the chemical transformation of L-selenocystine into Se-CQDs. The XPS spectrum indicated that the Se-CQDs were mainly composed of carbon, nitrogen, selenium, and oxygen, which corresponded to the typical peaks of C 1s, N 1s, O 1s, and Se 3d ( Figure 2C).…”

“…4,5,11 Immediately after the primary injury, a sustained secondary injury cascade occurs, which leads to further damage to the spinal cord and neurological dysfunction. 4,5,[10][11][12][13] Thus, it is of great importance to mitigate secondary injury in the clinical treatment of acute TSCI. Currently, high-dose administration of methylprednisolone sodium succinate is the only recommended neuroprotective drug available for ameliorating secondary injury after acute TSCI.…”