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van Velthoven MJJ, Gudde AN, Arendsen E, Roovers JP, Guler Z, Oosterwijk E, Kouwer PHJ. Growth Factor Immobilization to Synthetic Hydrogels: Bioactive bFGF-Functionalized Polyisocyanide Hydrogels. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2301109. [PMID: 37526214 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
With its involvement in cell proliferation, migration and differentiation basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has great potential for tissue engineering purposes. So far, however, clinical translation of soluble bFGF-based therapies is unsuccessful, because the required effective doses are often supraphysiological, which may cause adverse effects. An effective solution is growth factor immobilization, whereby bFGF retains its bioactivity at increased efficacy. Studied carriers include films, solid scaffolds, and particles, as well as natural and synthetic hydrogels. However, these synthetic hydrogels poorly resemble the characteristics of the native extracellular matrix (ECM). In this work, bFGF is covalently conjugated to the synthetic, but highly biocompatible, polyisocyanide-based hydrogel (PIC-bFGF), which closely mimics the architecture and mechanical properties of the ECM. The growth factor conjugation protocol is straightforward and readily extrapolated to other growth factors or proteins. The PIC-bFGF hydrogel shows a prolonged bioactivity up to 4 weeks although no clear effects on the ECM metabolism are observed. Beyond the future potential of the PIC-bFGF hydrogel toward various tissue engineering applications, this work underlines that simple biological conjugation procedures are a powerful strategy to induce additional bioactivity in 3D synthetic cell culture matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J J van Velthoven
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
- Department of Urology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 28, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Aksel N Gudde
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, location AMC, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam University Medical Center, location AMC, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
| | - Evert Arendsen
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
- Department of Urology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 28, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Jan-Paul Roovers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, location AMC, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam University Medical Center, location AMC, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
| | - Zeliha Guler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, location AMC, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam University Medical Center, location AMC, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
| | - Egbert Oosterwijk
- Department of Urology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 28, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Paul H J Kouwer
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
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Long Q, Wu B, Yang Y, Wang S, Shen Y, Bao Q, Xu F. Nerve guidance conduit promoted peripheral nerve regeneration in rats. Artif Organs 2021; 45:616-624. [PMID: 33270261 DOI: 10.1111/aor.13881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Nerve growth factor (NGF) is important for peripheral nerve regeneration. However, its short half-life and rapid diffusion in body fluids limit its clinical efficacy. Collagen has favorable biocompatibility and biodegradability, and weak immunogenicity. Because it possesses an NGF binding domain, we cross-linked heparin to collagen tubes to construct nerve guidance conduits for delivering NGF. The conduits were implanted to bridge a facial nerve defect in rats. Histological and functional analyses were performed to assess the effect of the nerve guidance conduit on facial nerve regeneration. Heparin enhanced the binding of NGF to collagen while retaining its bioactivity. Also, the nerve guidance conduit significantly promoted axonal growth and Schwan cell proliferation at 12 weeks after surgery. The nerve regeneration and functional recovery outcomes using the nerve guidance conduit were similar to those of autologous nerve grafting. Therefore, the nerve guidance conduit may promote safer nerve regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingshan Long
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huizhou Third People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Huizhou, China
| | - Bingshan Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, China
| | - Yu Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Zigong Mental Health Center, Zigong City, China
| | - Shanhong Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Zigong Mental Health Center, Zigong City, China
| | - Yiwen Shen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qinghua Bao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Aoyang Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhangjiagang, China
| | - Feng Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Li R, Li Y, Wu Y, Zhao Y, Chen H, Yuan Y, Xu K, Zhang H, Lu Y, Wang J, Li X, Jia X, Xiao J. Heparin-Poloxamer Thermosensitive Hydrogel Loaded with bFGF and NGF Enhances Peripheral Nerve Regeneration in Diabetic Rats. Biomaterials 2018; 168:24-37. [PMID: 29609091 PMCID: PMC5935004 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.03.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is a major burden to society with limited therapeutic options, and novel biomaterials have great potential for shifting the current paradigm of treatment. With a rising prevalence of chronic illnesses such as diabetes mellitus (DM), treatment of PNI is further complicated, and only few studies have proposed therapies suitable for peripheral nerve regeneration in DM. To provide a supportive environment to restore structure and/or function of nerves in DM, we developed a novel thermo-sensitive heparin-poloxamer (HP) hydrogel co-delivered with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in diabetic rats with sciatic nerve crush injury. The delivery vehicle not only had a good affinity for large amounts of growth factors (GFs), but also controlled their release in a steady fashion, preventing degradation in vitro. In vivo, compared with HP hydrogel alone or direct GFs administration, GFs-HP hydrogel treatment is more effective at facilitating Schwann cell (SC) proliferation, leading to an increased expression of nerve associated structural proteins, enhanced axonal regeneration and remyelination, and improved recovery of motor function (all p < 0.05). Our mechanistic investigation also revealed that these neuroprotective and neuroregenerative effects of the GFs-HP hydrogel may be associated with activations of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase and protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK/STAT3), and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) signaling pathways. Our work provides a promising therapy option for peripheral nerve regeneration in patients with DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Li
- Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Yiyang Li
- Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Yanqing Wu
- The Institute of Life Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Yingzheng Zhao
- Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Huanwen Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Ke Xu
- The Institute of Life Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Hongyu Zhang
- Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Yingfeng Lu
- Department of Peripheral Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Peripheral Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Xiaokun Li
- The Institute of Life Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Xiaofeng Jia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Orthopaedics, Anatomy Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Jian Xiao
- Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China.
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