Self-assembling Molecular Medicine for the Subacute Phase of Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Ischemic stroke leads to acute neuron death and forms an injured core, triggering delayed cell death at the penumbra. The impaired brain functions after ischemic stroke are hardly recovered because of the limited regenerative properties. However, recent rodent intervention studies manipulating the extracellular environments at the subacute phase shed new light on the regenerative potency of the injured brain. This review introduces the rational design of artificial extracellular matrix (ECM) mimics using supramolecular peptidic scaffolds, which self-assemble via non-covalent bonds and form hydrogels. The facile customizability of the peptide structures allows tuning the hydrogels' physical and biochemical properties, such as charge states, hydrophobicity, cell adhesiveness, stiffness, and stimuli responses. Supramolecular peptidic materials can create safer and more economical drugs than polymer materials and cell transplantation. We also discuss the importance of activating developmental programs for the recovery at the subacute phase of ischemic stroke. Self-assembling molecular medicine mimicking the ECMs and activating developmental programs may stand as a new drug modality of regenerative medicine in various tissues.

Engineered Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Specifically Bonded with Injectable Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel for the Functional Restoration of Cerebral Ischemia in Rats

“…ECM-based scaffolds have been shown to promote the reconstruction of injured tissues and facilitate functional tissue restoration [ 30 ]. ECM hydrogels deriving from different sources, such as the brain, bladder, and spine cord, were compared in cerebral injury.…”

Short Peptide Nanofiber Biomaterials Ameliorate Local Hemostatic Capacity of Surgical Materials and Intraoperative Hemostatic Applications in Clinics

“…To repair the impaired neural functions in brain after ischemic stroke, dSAP hydrogel was an excellent tool to create safer and more economical biomedical devices than polymeric materials and cell transplantation. [ 153 ] Various peptide hydrogel biomaterials and progenitor cells were combined to explore proper local regenerative and therapeutic strategies in brain and spinal cord injuries including peripheral nerve injuries that need neurotrophic factors and Schwann cells to achieve reversible neurological deficits. [ 154 ] For the sustained release of multiple full‐length growth factors, Atsuya Yaguchi and co‐workers developed a fiber‐forming type of jigsaw‐shaped SAP (Figure 5B), [ 155 ] which might disperse homogeneously in hydrogel and formed several‐micrometer‐long cell‐adhesive peptide through a helix‐to‐strand transition in local physiological condition.…”

Biophysical elucidation of neural network and chemical regeneration of neural tissue

“…However, it is being elucidated that the injured brain has regenerative potential. Dr. Itsuki Ajioka (Tokyo Medical Dental University, KISTEC) will present injured brain regeneration using supramolecular peptide hydrogels [10][11][12]. Self-assembling peptides form a hydrogel by supramolecular interactions.…”