Differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells -derived trabecular meshwork into dopaminergic neuron-like cells on nanofibrous scaffolds

Microchip encapsulation and microRNA-7 overexpression of trabecular meshwork mesenchymal stem/stromal cells improve motor function after spinal cord injury

Manipulation of stem cells and microencapsulation through microfluidic chips has shown more promising results in treating complex conditions, such as spinal cord injury (SCI), than traditional treatments. This study aimed to investigate the potency of neural differentiation and its therapeutic role in SCI animal model of trabecular meshwork mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (TMMSCs) via miR-7 overexpression and microchip-encapsulated. TMMSCs are transduced with miR-7 via a lentiviral vector (TMMSCs-miR-7[+]) and encapsulated in alginate-reduced graphene oxide (alginate-rGO) hydrogel via a microfluidic chip. Neuronal differentiation of transduced cells in hydrogel (3D) and tissue cultures plate (2D) was assessed by expressing specific mRNAs and proteins. Further evaluation is being carried out through 3D and 2D TMMSCs-miR-7(+ and -) transplantation into the rat contusion SCI model. TMMSCs-miR-7(+) encapsulated in the microfluidic chip (miR-7-3D) increased nestin, β-tubulin III, and MAP-2 expression compared with 2D culture. Moreover, miR-7-3D could improve locomotor behavior in contusion SCI rats, decrease cavity size, and increase myelination. Our results revealed that miR-7 and alginate-rGO hydrogel were involved in the neuronal differentiation of TMMSCs in a time-dependent manner. In addition, the microfluidic-encapsulated miR-7 overexpression TMMSCs represented a better survival and integration of the transplanted cells and the repair of SCI. Collectively, the combination of miR-7 overexpression and encapsulation of TMMSCs in hydrogels may represent a promising new treatment for SCI.

Nose-to-Brain: The Next Step for Stem Cell and Biomaterial Therapy in Neurological Disorders

Neurological disorders are a leading cause of morbidity worldwide, giving rise to a growing need to develop treatments to revert their symptoms. This review highlights the great potential of recent advances in cell therapy for the treatment of neurological disorders. Through the administration of pluripotent or stem cells, this novel therapy may promote neuroprotection, neuroplasticity, and neuroregeneration in lesion areas. The review also addresses the administration of these therapeutic molecules by the intranasal route, a promising, non-conventional route that allows for direct access to the central nervous system without crossing the blood–brain barrier, avoiding potential adverse reactions and enabling the administration of large quantities of therapeutic molecules to the brain. Finally, we focus on the need to use biomaterials, which play an important role as nutrient carriers, scaffolds, and immune modulators in the administration of non-autologous cells. Little research has been conducted into the integration of biomaterials alongside intranasally administered cell therapy, a highly promising approach for the treatment of neurological disorders.

Sources, Characteristics, and Therapeutic Applications of Mesenchymal Cells in Tissue Engineering

Tissue engineering (TE) is a therapeutic option within regenerative medicine that allows to mimic the original cell environment and functional organization of the cell types necessary for the recovery or regeneration of damaged tissue using cell sources, scaffolds, and bioreactors. Among the cell sources, the utilization of mesenchymal cells (MSCs) has gained great interest because these multipotent cells are capable of differentiating into diverse tissues, in addition to their self-renewal capacity to maintain their cell population, thus representing a therapeutic alternative for those diseases that can only be controlled with palliative treatments. This review aimed to summarize the state of the art of the main sources of MSCs as well as particular characteristics of each subtype and applications of MSCs in TE in seven different areas (neural, osseous, epithelial, cartilage, osteochondral, muscle, and cardiac) with a systemic revision of advances made in the last 10 years. It was observed that bone marrow-derived MSCs are the principal type of MSCs used in TE, and the most commonly employed techniques for MSCs characterization are immunodetection techniques. Moreover, the utilization of natural biomaterials is higher (41.96%) than that of synthetic biomaterials (18.75%) for the construction of the scaffolds in which cells are seeded. Further, this review shows alternatives of MSCs derived from other tissues and diverse strategies that can improve this area of regenerative medicine.

Detecting and targeting neurodegenerative disorders using electrospun nanofibrous matrices: current status and applications

Neurodegeneration is defined as the progressive atrophy and loss of function of neurons; it is present in neurodegenerative disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's diseases. The detection of such disorders is performed by various imaging modalities while their therapeutic management is quite challenging. Besides, the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders is still under ongoing research due to complex and multi-factorial mechanisms. Currently, targeting the specific proteins responsible for neurodegeneration is of great interest to many researchers. Furthermore, nanotechnology-based approaches for targeting the affected neurons became an emerging field of interest. Nanostructures of various forms have been developed aiming to act as therapeutics for neurodegeneration, in which electrospun nanofibers seem to play an important role as biomedical products for both detection and management of the diseases. Electrospinning is an intriguing method able to produce nanofibers with a wide range of sizes and morphological characteristics. Such nanofibrous matrices can be delivered through different administration routes to target various diseases. In this review, the most recent advancements in electrospun nanofibrous systems that target or detect multiple neurodegenerative diseases have been enlightened and an introduction to the general aspects of neurodegenerative diseases and the electrospinning process has been made. Finally, future perspectives of neurodegeneration targeting were also discussed.

Biomaterials in Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Promising Therapeutic Approach

Neurodegenerative disorders (i.e., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and spinal cord injury) represent a great problem worldwide and are becoming prevalent because of the increasing average age of the population. Despite many studies having focused on their etiopathology, the exact cause of these diseases is still unknown and until now, there are only symptomatic treatments. Biomaterials have become important not only for the study of disease pathogenesis, but also for their application in regenerative medicine. The great advantages provided by biomaterials are their ability to mimic the environment of the extracellular matrix and to allow the growth of different types of cells. Biomaterials can be used as supporting material for cell proliferation to be transplanted and as vectors to deliver many active molecules for the treatments of neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we aim to report the potentiality of biomaterials (i.e., hydrogels, nanoparticles, self-assembling peptides, nanofibers and carbon-based nanomaterials) by analyzing their use in the regeneration of neural and glial cells their role in axon outgrowth. Although further studies are needed for their use in humans, the promising results obtained by several groups leads us to suppose that biomaterials represent a potential therapeutic approach for the treatments of neurodegenerative disorders.

Stem cells from trabecular meshwork cells can secrete extracellular matrix

Isolation of trabecular meshwork stem cells in vitro provides the foundation of a novel treatment for glaucoma. Trabecular meshwork stem cells (TMSCs) of the fetal calve were extracted and cultured for this experiment. TMSCs were isolated through side population cell sorting. TMSCs were then identified using immunofluorescent staining. Extracellular matrix (ECM) expression in TM cells derived from TMSCs was evaluated with Western blot. Our results showed a positive expression of stem cell markers Notch1 and OCT-3/4 in TMSCs, but no TM cells markers TIMP3 or AQP1. In contrast, primary TM cells expressed these TM cell markers but no stem cell markers. Our result confirmed that there are expression of ECM components, such as fibronectin, laminin, collagen I and collagen IV in TM cells differentiated from TMSCs. CONCLUSION: TM cells derived from TMSCs can secrete ECM components which is important for sustain the physiological function.

In vitro differentiation of conjunctiva mesenchymal stem cells into insulin producing cells on natural and synthetic electrospun scaffolds

Polymers are used in tissue engineering as a scaffold. In this study the differentiation capability of conjunctiva mesenchymal stem cells (CJMSCs) on natural and synthetic nanofibrous electrospun scaffolds into insulin producing cells (IPCs) were studied. Natural Silk fibroin and synthetic PLLA polymers were used to fabricate electrospun scaffolds. These scaffolds are characterized by SEM and CJMSCs were differentiated into IPCs on these scaffolds. The differentiation efficiency was measured by analysis the expression of specific pancreatic markers by RT-qPCR and insulin release capacity via ELISA. Microscopy analysis showed the fabrication of uniform nanofibers and the formation of the islet-like clusters at the end of differentiation period. Significant differences in expression of Pdx-1 and glucagon were observed in PLLA scaffold compared to Silk scaffold (Fold: 1.625 and 1.434, respectively; P-value ≤ 0.0001 for both). Furthermore, insulin secretion at high glucose concentration was significantly higher in cells differentiated on PLLA scaffold than those cultured on Silk scaffold (P-value: 0.012). The scaffolds can enhance the differentiation of IPCs from CJMSCs. In this way, PLLA synthetic scaffold was more efficient than Silk natural scaffold. We conclude that the nanofibrous scaffolds reported herein could be used as a potential supportive matrix for islet tissue engineering.

Trabecular meshwork mesenchymal stem cell transplantation improve motor symptoms of parkinsonian rat model

Stem cell transplantation is a new therapeutic strategy in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Therefore, in this study, the therapeutic effects of Trabecular Meshwork Mesenchymal Stem Cells (TM-MSCs) transplantation, as a new source of mesenchymal stem cells, were evaluated in the animal model of PD. After the development and confirmation of hemi-parkinsonian rats by administration of 6-hydroxy dopamine (6-OHDA) and apomorphine-induced rotation test, green fluorescent protein (GFP) labeled TM-MSCs (normal and induced cells) were transplanted in the striatum of rats. Next, the rotation test, rotarod test, open field, passive avoidance memory tests and immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) were done. The results showed that the number of turns significantly decreased and the improvement of motor performance was achieved after cell transplantation. However, there was no significant difference in passive avoidance memory of animals documented by shuttle box test. The number of GFP- labeled cells expressing TH significantly is increased compared to the vehicle group. Collectively, it seems that TM-MSCs and induced TM-MSCs cell transplantation have positive effects on some aspects of the animal model of PD. Other studies may reveal the potentially positive aspects of these cells in the laboratory and clinical studies.