1
|
Gao Y, Wang Y, Wu Y, Liu S. Biomaterials targeting the microenvironment for spinal cord injury repair: progression and perspectives. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1362494. [PMID: 38784712 PMCID: PMC11111957 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1362494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts nerve pathways and affects sensory, motor, and autonomic function. There is currently no effective treatment for SCI. SCI occurs within three temporal periods: acute, subacute, and chronic. In each period there are different alterations in the cells, inflammatory factors, and signaling pathways within the spinal cord. Many biomaterials have been investigated in the treatment of SCI, including hydrogels and fiber scaffolds, and some progress has been made in the treatment of SCI using multiple materials. However, there are limitations when using individual biomaterials in SCI treatment, and these limitations can be significantly improved by combining treatments with stem cells. In order to better understand SCI and to investigate new strategies for its treatment, several combination therapies that include materials combined with cells, drugs, cytokines, etc. are summarized in the current review.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yating Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianyou Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianyou Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yaqi Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shengwen Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Đorđević S, Medel M, Hillaert J, Masiá E, Conejos-Sánchez I, Vicent MJ. Critical Design Strategies Supporting Optimized Drug Release from Polymer-Drug Conjugates. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2303157. [PMID: 37752780 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202303157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
The importance of an adequate linking moiety design that allows controlled drug(s) release at the desired site of action is extensively studied for polymer-drug conjugates (PDCs). Redox-responsive self-immolative linkers bearing disulfide moieties (SS-SIL) represent a powerful strategy for intracellular drug delivery; however, the influence of drug structural features and linker-associated spacers on release kinetics remains relatively unexplored. The influence of drug/spacer chemical structure and the chemical group available for conjugation on drug release and the biological effect of resultant PDCs is evaluated. A "design of experiments" tool is implemented to develop a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method to perform the comprehensive characterization required for this systematic study. The obtained fit-for-purpose analytical protocol enables the quantification of low drug concentrations in drug release studies and the elucidation of metabolite presence. and provides the first data that clarifies how drug structural features influence the drug release from SS-SIL and demonstrates the non-universal nature of the SS-SIL. The importance of rigorous linker characterization in understanding structure-function correlations between linkers, drug chemical functionalities, and in vitro release kinetics from a rationally-designed polymer-drug nanoconjugate, a critical strategic crafting methodology that should remain under consideration when using a reductive environment as an endogenous drug release trigger.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Snežana Đorđević
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF) and CIBERONC, Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, Valencia, 46012, Spain
| | - María Medel
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF) and CIBERONC, Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, Valencia, 46012, Spain
| | - Justine Hillaert
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF) and CIBERONC, Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, Valencia, 46012, Spain
| | - Esther Masiá
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF) and CIBERONC, Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, Valencia, 46012, Spain
- Screening Platform, Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF), Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, Valencia, 46012, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Conejos-Sánchez
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF) and CIBERONC, Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, Valencia, 46012, Spain
| | - María J Vicent
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF) and CIBERONC, Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, Valencia, 46012, Spain
- Screening Platform, Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF), Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, Valencia, 46012, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hu X, Xu W, Ren Y, Wang Z, He X, Huang R, Ma B, Zhao J, Zhu R, Cheng L. Spinal cord injury: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic interventions. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:245. [PMID: 37357239 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01477-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a severe condition with an extremely high disability rate. The challenges of SCI repair include its complex pathological mechanisms and the difficulties of neural regeneration in the central nervous system. In the past few decades, researchers have attempted to completely elucidate the pathological mechanism of SCI and identify effective strategies to promote axon regeneration and neural circuit remodeling, but the results have not been ideal. Recently, new pathological mechanisms of SCI, especially the interactions between immune and neural cell responses, have been revealed by single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptome analysis. With the development of bioactive materials and stem cells, more attention has been focused on forming intermediate neural networks to promote neural regeneration and neural circuit reconstruction than on promoting axonal regeneration in the corticospinal tract. Furthermore, technologies to control physical parameters such as electricity, magnetism and ultrasound have been constantly innovated and applied in neural cell fate regulation. Among these advanced novel strategies and technologies, stem cell therapy, biomaterial transplantation, and electromagnetic stimulation have entered into the stage of clinical trials, and some of them have already been applied in clinical treatment. In this review, we outline the overall epidemiology and pathophysiology of SCI, expound on the latest research progress related to neural regeneration and circuit reconstruction in detail, and propose future directions for SCI repair and clinical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Hu
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China
| | - Yilong Ren
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaojie Wang
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaolie He
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China
| | - Runzhi Huang
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China
| | - Bei Ma
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingwei Zhao
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China
| | - Rongrong Zhu
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China.
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China.
| | - Liming Cheng
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China.
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Giraldo E, Bonilla P, Mellado M, Garcia-Manau P, Rodo C, Alastrue A, Lopez E, Moratonas EC, Pellise F, Đorđević S, Vicent MJ, Moreno Manzano V. Transplantation of Human-Fetal-Spinal-Cord-Derived NPCs Primed with a Polyglutamate-Conjugated Rho/Rock Inhibitor in Acute Spinal Cord Injury. Cells 2022; 11:cells11203304. [PMID: 36291170 PMCID: PMC9600863 DOI: 10.3390/cells11203304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural precursor cell (NPC) transplantation represents a promising therapy for treating spinal cord injuries (SCIs); however, despite successful results obtained in preclinical models, the clinical translation of this approach remains challenging due, in part, to the lack of consensus on an optimal cell source for human neuronal cells. Depending on the cell source, additional limitations to NPC-based therapies include high tumorigenic potential, alongside poor graft survival and engraftment into host spinal tissue. We previously demonstrated that NPCs derived from rat fetal spinal cords primed with a polyglutamate (PGA)-conjugated form of the Rho/Rock inhibitor fasudil (PGA-SS-FAS) displayed enhanced neuronal differentiation and graft survival when compared to non-primed NPCs. We now conducted a similar study of human-fetal-spinal-cord-derived NPCs (hfNPCs) from legal gestational interruptions at the late gestational stage, at 19-21.6 weeks. In vitro, expanded hfNPCs retained neural features, multipotency, and self-renewal, which supported the development of a cell banking strategy. Before transplantation, we established a simple procedure to prime hfNPCs by overnight incubation with PGA-SS-FAS (at 50 μM FAS equiv.), which improved neuronal differentiation and overcame neurite-like retraction after lysophosphatidic-acid-induced Rho/Rock activation. The transplantation of primed hfNPCs into immune-deficient mice (NU(NCr)-Foxn1nu) immediately after the eighth thoracic segment compression prompted enhanced migration of grafted cells from the dorsal to the ventral spinal cord, increased preservation of GABAergic inhibitory Lbx1-expressing and glutamatergic excitatory Tlx3-expressing somatosensory interneurons, and elevated the numbers of preserved, c-Fos-expressing, activated neurons surrounding the injury epicenter, all in a low percentage. Overall, the priming procedure using PGA-SS-FAS could represent an alternative methodology to improve the capabilities of the hfNPC lines for a translational approach for acute SCI treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Esther Giraldo
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46012 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Biotechnology. Universitat Politècnica de València, E-46022 Valencia, Spain
- UPV-CIPF Joint Research Unit Disease Mechanisms and Nanomedicine, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Pablo Bonilla
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Mara Mellado
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Pablo Garcia-Manau
- Maternal-Foetal Medicine Unit, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Campus, E-08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlota Rodo
- Maternal-Foetal Medicine Unit, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Campus, E-08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Alastrue
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Eric Lopez
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46012 Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Ferran Pellise
- Spine Surgery Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, E-08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Snežana Đorđević
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - María J. Vicent
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - Victoria Moreno Manzano
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46012 Valencia, Spain
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Xiao S, Zhong N, Yang Q, Li A, Tong W, Zhang Y, Yao G, Wang S, Liu J, Liu Z. Aucubin promoted neuron functional recovery by suppressing inflammation and neuronal apoptosis in a spinal cord injury model. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 111:109163. [PMID: 35994851 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause severe motor impairment. Post-SCI treatment has focused primarily on secondary injury, with neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis as the primary therapeutic targets. Aucubin (Au), a Chinese herbal medicine, exerts anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. The therapeutic effects of Aucubin in SCI have not been reported. METHODS In this study, we carried out an in vivo SCI model and a series of in vitro experiments to explore the therapeutic effect of Aucubin. Western Blotting and immunofluorescence were used to study the effect of Aucubin on microglial polarization and neuronal apoptosis and its underlying mechanism. RESULTS We found that Aucubin can promote axonal regeneration by reducing neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis, which is beneficial to motor recovery after spinal cord injury in rats. Our further in vitro experiments showed that Aucubin can activate the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation protein-88 (MyD88)/IκBα/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway to reduce neuroinflammation and reverse mitochondrial dysfunction to reduce neuronal apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS In summary, these results suggest that Aucubin may ameliorate secondary injury after SCI by reducing neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis. Therefore, Au may be a promising post-SCI therapeutic drug.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shining Xiao
- Medical Innovation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; Institute of Spine and Spinal Cord, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; The First Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Nanshan Zhong
- Medical Innovation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; Institute of Spine and Spinal Cord, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; The First Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Quanming Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo 315000, China
| | - Anan Li
- Medical Innovation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; Institute of Spine and Spinal Cord, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; The First Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Weilai Tong
- Medical Innovation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; Institute of Spine and Spinal Cord, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; The First Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Medical Innovation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; Institute of Spine and Spinal Cord, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; The First Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Geliang Yao
- Medical Innovation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; Institute of Spine and Spinal Cord, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; The First Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Shijiang Wang
- Medical Innovation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; Institute of Spine and Spinal Cord, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; The First Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Jiaming Liu
- Medical Innovation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; Institute of Spine and Spinal Cord, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China.
| | - Zhili Liu
- Medical Innovation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; Institute of Spine and Spinal Cord, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
NPC transplantation rescues sci-driven cAMP/EPAC2 alterations, leading to neuroprotection and microglial modulation. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:455. [PMID: 35904607 PMCID: PMC9338125 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04494-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Neural progenitor cell (NPC) transplantation represents a promising treatment strategy for spinal cord injury (SCI); however, the underlying therapeutic mechanisms remain incompletely understood. We demonstrate that severe spinal contusion in adult rats causes transcriptional dysregulation, which persists from early subacute to chronic stages of SCI and affects nearly 20,000 genes in total tissue extracts. Functional analysis of this dysregulated transcriptome reveals the significant downregulation of cAMP signalling components immediately after SCI, involving genes such as EPAC2 (exchange protein directly activated by cAMP), PKA, BDNF, and CAMKK2. The ectopic transplantation of spinal cord-derived NPCs at acute or subacute stages of SCI induces a significant transcriptional impact in spinal tissue, as evidenced by the normalized expression of a large proportion of SCI-affected genes. The transcriptional modulation pattern driven by NPC transplantation includes the rescued expression of cAMP signalling genes, including EPAC2. We also explore how the sustained in vivo inhibition of EPAC2 downstream signalling via the intrathecal administration of ESI-05 for 1 week impacts therapeutic mechanisms involved in the NPC-mediated treatment of SCI. NPC transplantation in SCI rats in the presence and absence of ESI-05 administration prompts increased rostral cAMP levels; however, NPC and ESI-05 treated animals exhibit a significant reduction in EPAC2 mRNA levels compared to animals receiving only NPCs treatment. Compared with transplanted animals, NPCs + ESI-05 treatment increases the scar area (as shown by GFAP staining), polarizes microglia into an inflammatory phenotype, and increases the magnitude of the gap between NeuN + cells across the lesion. Overall, our results indicate that the NPC-associated therapeutic mechanisms in the context of SCI involve the cAMP pathway, which reduces inflammation and provides a more neuropermissive environment through an EPAC2-dependent mechanism.
Collapse
|
7
|
Cell transplantation to repair the injured spinal cord. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 166:79-158. [PMID: 36424097 PMCID: PMC10008620 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2022.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
|
8
|
Elkhenany H, Bonilla P, Giraldo E, Alastrue Agudo A, Edel MJ, Vicent MJ, Roca FG, Ramos CM, Doblado LR, Pradas MM, Manzano VM. A Hyaluronic Acid Demilune Scaffold and Polypyrrole-Coated Fibers Carrying Embedded Human Neural Precursor Cells and Curcumin for Surface Capping of Spinal Cord Injuries. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1928. [PMID: 34944744 PMCID: PMC8698735 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9121928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue engineering, including cell transplantation and the application of biomaterials and bioactive molecules, represents a promising approach for regeneration following spinal cord injury (SCI). We designed a combinatorial tissue-engineered approach for the minimally invasive treatment of SCI-a hyaluronic acid (HA)-based scaffold containing polypyrrole-coated fibers (PPY) combined with the RAD16-I self-assembling peptide hydrogel (Corning® PuraMatrix™ peptide hydrogel (PM)), human induced neural progenitor cells (iNPCs), and a nanoconjugated form of curcumin (CURC). In vitro cultures demonstrated that PM preserves iNPC viability and the addition of CURC reduces apoptosis and enhances the outgrowth of Nestin-positive neurites from iNPCs, compared to non-embedded iNPCs. The treatment of spinal cord organotypic cultures also demonstrated that CURC enhances cell migration and prompts a neuron-like morphology of embedded iNPCs implanted over the tissue slices. Following sub-acute SCI by traumatic contusion in rats, the implantation of PM-embedded iNPCs and CURC with PPY fibers supported a significant increase in neuro-preservation (as measured by greater βIII-tubulin staining of neuronal fibers) and decrease in the injured area (as measured by the lack of GFAP staining). This combination therapy also restricted platelet-derived growth factor expression, indicating a reduction in fibrotic pericyte invasion. Overall, these findings support PM-embedded iNPCs with CURC placed within an HA demilune scaffold containing PPY fibers as a minimally invasive combination-based alternative to cell transplantation alone.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hoda Elkhenany
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain; (H.E.); (P.B.); (E.G.); (A.A.A.)
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 22785, Egypt
| | - Pablo Bonilla
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain; (H.E.); (P.B.); (E.G.); (A.A.A.)
| | - Esther Giraldo
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain; (H.E.); (P.B.); (E.G.); (A.A.A.)
- Department of Biotechnology, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Alastrue Agudo
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain; (H.E.); (P.B.); (E.G.); (A.A.A.)
| | - Michael J. Edel
- Unit of Anatomy and Embryology, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centre for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine (CCTRM), Harry Perkins Research Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, Australia
- International Research Fellow, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney 2010, Australia
| | - María Jesus Vicent
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Fernando Gisbert Roca
- Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain; (F.G.R.); (C.M.R.); (L.R.D.); (M.M.P.)
| | - Cristina Martínez Ramos
- Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain; (F.G.R.); (C.M.R.); (L.R.D.); (M.M.P.)
| | - Laura Rodríguez Doblado
- Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain; (F.G.R.); (C.M.R.); (L.R.D.); (M.M.P.)
| | - Manuel Monleón Pradas
- Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain; (F.G.R.); (C.M.R.); (L.R.D.); (M.M.P.)
| | - Victoria Moreno Manzano
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain; (H.E.); (P.B.); (E.G.); (A.A.A.)
| |
Collapse
|