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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Neural stem cells (NSCs) have the potential to proliferate and differentiate into functional neurons, heightening their potential use for therapeutic applications. This review explores bioengineered systems which recapitulate NSC niche cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. RECENT FINDINGS Delivery of NSCs to the cytotoxic injured brain is limited by low cell survival rates post-transplantation and poor maintenance of native niche bioactive components. The use of biomaterial platforms can mimic in vivo the environment of the two germinal areas of the adult brain in which NSCs thrive. An environmental mimic that includes extracellular proteins and moieties, along with appropriate biomechanical cues has recently demonstrated promising results in enhancing neurogenesis, aiding the production of a bioengineered niche. SUMMARY Biocomposition, biomechanics, and biostructure can be manipulated through engineered platforms to re-create the biofunctionality of an NSC niche. Upon transplantation and delivery with biomimetic scaffolds, NSCs show potential to promote functional recovery and rebuild neural circuitry post neurological trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Matta
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Anjelica L Gonzalez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
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152
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Multifunctionalized hydrogels foster hNSC maturation in 3D cultures and neural regeneration in spinal cord injuries. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:7483-7492. [PMID: 30923117 PMCID: PMC6462084 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1818392116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells reside in 3D microenvironments in living tissues; consequently, 3D cultures gained great interest because they better mimic the natural conditions of cells. Self-assembling peptides (SAPs) are synthetic bioabsorbable biomaterials that can provide customized 3D microenvironments regulating cell functionalities and tissue repair. Here we introduce a SAP-hydrogel designed to support human neural stem cell (hNSC) differentiation in 3D serum-free conditions, generating mature and active human neurons in vitro. We also demonstrate its functional neurorigenerative potential in rat spinal cord injuries, peaking when seeded with hNSCs progeny predifferentiated in vitro for 6 weeks. Despite these promising results, this approach should be confirmed in the future with medium-size animal models and with additional and refined behavioral tests before entering a clinical trial. Three-dimensional cell cultures are leading the way to the fabrication of tissue-like constructs useful to developmental biology and pharmaceutical screenings. However, their reproducibility and translational potential have been limited by biomaterial and culture media compositions, as well as cellular sources. We developed a construct comprising synthetic multifunctionalized hydrogels, serum-free media, and densely seeded good manufacturing practice protocol-grade human neural stem cells (hNSC). We tracked hNSC proliferation, differentiation, and maturation into GABAergic, glutamatergic, and cholinergic neurons, showing entangled electrically active neural networks. The neuroregenerative potential of the “engineered tissue” was assessed in spinal cord injuries, where hNSC-derived progenitors and predifferentiated hNSC progeny, embedded in multifunctionalized hydrogels, were implanted. All implants decreased astrogliosis and lowered the immune response, but scaffolds with predifferentiated hNSCs showed higher percentages of neuronal markers, better hNSC engraftment, and improved behavioral recovery. Our hNSC-construct enables the formation of 3D functional neuronal networks in vitro, allowing novel strategies for hNSC therapies in vivo.
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153
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Li H, Wang C, He T, Zhao T, Chen YY, Shen YL, Zhang X, Wang LL. Mitochondrial Transfer from Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Motor Neurons in Spinal Cord Injury Rats via Gap Junction. Am J Cancer Res 2019; 9:2017-2035. [PMID: 31037154 PMCID: PMC6485285 DOI: 10.7150/thno.29400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) protect the injured neurons of spinal cord injury (SCI) from apoptosis while the underlying mechanism of the protective effect of BMSCs remains unclear. In this study, we found the transfer of mitochondria from BMSCs to injured motor neurons and detected the functional improvement after transplanting. Methods: Primary rat BMSCs were co-cultured with oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) injured VSC4.1 motor neurons or primary cortical neurons. FACS analysis was used to detect the transfer of mitochondria from BMSCs to neurons. The bioenergetics profiling of neurons was detected by Extracellular Flux Analysis. Cell viability and apoptosis were also measured. BMSCs and isolated mitochondria were transplanted into SCI rats. TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labelling staining was used to detect apoptotic neurons in the ventral horn. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to measure protein expression. Re-myelination was examined by transmission electron microscope. BBB scores were used to assess locomotor function. Results: MitoTracker-Red labelled mitochondria of BMSCs could be transferred to the OGD injured neurons. The gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) potentiator retinoid acid increased the quantity of mitochondria transfer from BMSCs to neurons, while GJIC inhibitor 18β glycyrrhetinic acid decreased mitochondria transfer. Internalization of mitochondria improved the bioenergetics profile, decreased apoptosis and promoted cell survival in post-OGD motor neurons. Furthermore, both transplantation of mitochondria and BMSCs to the injured spinal cord improved locomotor functional recovery in SCI rats. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first evidence that BMSCs protect against SCI through GJIC to transfer mitochondrial to the injured neurons. Our findings suggested a new therapy strategy of mitochondria transfer for the patients with SCI.
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154
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Pirbhai M, Chandrasekar S, Zheng M, Ignatova T, Rotkin SV, Jedlicka SS. Augmentation of C17.2 Neural Stem Cell Differentiation via Uptake of Low Concentrations of ssDNA‐Wrapped Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 3:e1800321. [DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201800321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Massooma Pirbhai
- Department of Physics Susquehanna University 514 University Ave. Selinsgrove PA 17870 USA
| | - Swetha Chandrasekar
- Department of Bioengineering Lehigh University 111 Research Drive Bethlehem PA 18015 USA
| | - Ming Zheng
- National Institute of Standards and Technology 1000 Bureau Drive, M/S 8542 Gaithersburg MD 20899 USA
| | - Tetyana Ignatova
- Department of Nanoscience Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering University of North Carolina at Greensboro 2907 East Gate City Blvd. Greensboro NC 27401 USA
| | - Slava V. Rotkin
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics Materials Research Institute The Pennsylvania State University N‐332 Millennium Science Complex University Park PA 16802 USA
| | - Sabrina S. Jedlicka
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering Department of Bioengineering Lehigh University 5 E. Packer Ave. Bethlehem PA 18015 USA
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155
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Wang J, Zou W, Ma J, Liu J. Biomaterials and Gene Manipulation in Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Spinal Cord Injury. Stem Cells Dev 2019; 28:239-257. [PMID: 30489226 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2018.0169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI), a prominent health issue, represents a substantial portion of the global health care burden. Stem cell-based therapies provide novel solutions for SCI treatment, yet obstacles remain in the form of low survival rate, uncontrolled differentiation, and functional recovery. The application of engineered biomaterials in stem cell therapy provides a physicochemical microenvironment that mimics the stem cell niche, facilitating self-renewal, stem cell differentiation, and tissue reorganization. Nonetheless, external microenvironment support is inadequate, and some obstacles persist, for example, limited sources, gradual aging, and immunogenicity of stem cells. Targeted stem cell gene manipulation could eliminate many of these drawbacks, allowing safer, more effective use under regulation of intrinsic mechanisms. Additionally, through genetic labeling of stem cells, their role in tissue engineering may be elucidated. Therefore, combining stem cell therapy, materials science, and genetic modification technologies may shed light on SCI treatment. Herein, recent advances and advantages of biomaterials and gene manipulation, especially with respect to stem cell-based therapies, are highlighted, and their joint performance in SCI is evaluated. Current technological limitations and perspectives on future directions are then discussed. Although this combination is still in the early stages of development, it is highly likely to substantially contribute to stem cell-based therapies in the foreseeable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Wang
- 1 Regenerative Medicine Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.,2 Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Wei Zou
- 3 College of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China.,4 Liaoning Key Laboratories of Biotechnology and Molecular Drug Research & Development, Dalian, China
| | - Jingyun Ma
- 1 Regenerative Medicine Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.,2 Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Jing Liu
- 1 Regenerative Medicine Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.,2 Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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156
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Choi JR, Yong KW, Choi JY, Cowie AC. Recent advances in photo-crosslinkable hydrogels for biomedical applications. Biotechniques 2019; 66:40-53. [DOI: 10.2144/btn-2018-0083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Photo-crosslinkable hydrogels have recently attracted significant scientific interest. Their properties can be manipulated in a spatiotemporal manner through exposure to light to achieve the desirable functionality for various biomedical applications. This review article discusses the recent advances of the most common photo-crosslinkable hydrogels, including poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate, gelatin methacryloyl and methacrylated hyaluronic acid, for various biomedical applications. We first highlight the advantages of photopolymerization and discuss diverse photosensitive systems used for the synthesis of photo-crosslinkable hydrogels. We then introduce their synthesis methods and review their latest state of development in biomedical applications, including tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, drug delivery, cancer therapies and biosensing. Lastly, the existing challenges and future perspectives of engineering photo-crosslinkable hydrogels for biomedical applications are briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Ru Choi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2054–6250 Applied Science Lane, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, Life Sciences Centre, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Kar Wey Yong
- Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Jean Yu Choi
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Alistair C Cowie
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
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157
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Wu C, Xue LD, Su LW, Xie JL, Jiang H, Yu XJ, Liu HM. Magnesium promotes the viability and induces differentiation of neural stem cells both in vitro and in vivo. Neurol Res 2018; 41:208-215. [PMID: 30596346 DOI: 10.1080/01616412.2018.1544400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Neural stem cells (NSCs) are multipotent stem cells that generating various neural cells, including neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. This showed that NSCs is an ideal candidate in the application of neural disease treatment. In the current study, we established a simple and efficient method to promote the viability and induce the differentiation of NSCs by stimulating with magnesium. METHODS The proliferation and differentiation of NSCs was determined by MTT assay and immunostaining. The behavior alteration was measured by rotorod test and Morris water maze. RESULTS Magnesium enhanced proliferation in NSCs. The ratio of Nestin+, Ki67+ and GFAP+ progenitor cells was increased in the presence of magnesium. Besides, magnesium induced the glial differentiation instead of neuronal differentiation in NSCs. By contrast, transplantation of Mg2+-treated NSCs in vivo generated more neurons. In established PD models, transplantation of Mg2+-treated NSCs could improve the symptoms and recover the memory. CONCLUSION We established a simple and efficient way to promote the proliferation and induce the differentiation of NSCs. More importantly, this may also facilitate to develop a new method to neural disorder treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wu
- a Department of Neurosurgery , Tengzhou Central People's Hospital , Shandong , China
| | - Lan-De Xue
- b Department of Periodontology , Jinan Stomatological Hospital , Jinan , China
| | - Lin-Wang Su
- c Oral medicine , Liaocheng Peoples Hospital , Liaocheng , China
| | - Jian-Li Xie
- d Department of Prosthodontics , Jinan Stomatological Hospital , Jinan , China
| | - Huan Jiang
- e Department of Endodontics , Jinan Stomatological Hospital , Jinan , China
| | - Xi-Jiao Yu
- e Department of Endodontics , Jinan Stomatological Hospital , Jinan , China
| | - Hong-Mei Liu
- e Department of Endodontics , Jinan Stomatological Hospital , Jinan , China
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