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Trambitas C, Pap T, Niculescu R, Popelea MC, Cotoi OS, Cordoș B, Domnariu HP, Marin A, Feier AM, David C, Vintila C. Biocompatible 3D-Printed Devices With Adipose Stem Cells in the Regenerative Process of Sciatic Nerve Lesions in Rodent Models: An Experimental Study. Cureus 2024; 16:e62412. [PMID: 39011200 PMCID: PMC11248491 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.62412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Peripheral nerve injuries are a significant clinical challenge. The rat sciatic nerve serves as an ideal model for studying nerve regeneration. Extensive research has been conducted to unravel the intricate mechanisms involved in peripheral nerve regeneration, aiming to develop effective therapeutic strategies for nerve injury patients. Research including different types of materials that can be used as nerve guides like synthetic polymers have been investigated for their biocompatibility and molding properties. Among multiple stem cell types, adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have shown neuroprotective and regenerative important properties. METHODS The purposes of our study were to develop a protocol for rat sciatic nerve injury treated with 3D-printed guide and adipose stem cells to investigate nerve regeneration through histologic examination and biomechanical characteristics of muscular tissue. We use 20 (100%) male Wistar rats, measuring between 350 g ± 35 g, who underwent complete transection of the right sciatic nerve, resulting in a 1 cm defect. The group was separated into three subgroups: the first subgroup (n = 8) was treated with a 3D-printed guide with adipose stem cells, the second subgroup (n = 8) was treated with a 3D-printed guide without adipose stem cells, and the third subgroup (n = 4) was the control group. At four, eight, and 12 weeks, we measured with ultrasonography the grade of muscular atrophy. At 12 weeks, we harvested the sciatic nerve and performed a histological examination and mechanical investigation of the tibialis anterior muscle. RESULTS On the examined specimen of the first subgroup, cross-sectioned nerve structures were present, surrounded by a mature fibro-adipose connective tissue, with blood vessels. In the second subgroup, no nerve structure was observed on the examined sections, but in the polymorphic inflammatory infiltrate and control group, no signs of regeneration were found. CONCLUSIONS The present study shows a promising potential when utilizing adipose stem cell-based therapies for promoting peripheral nerve regeneration following large (>1 cm) nerve defects knowing that at this size, regeneration is impossible with known treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Trambitas
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Targu Mures, ROU
| | - Timea Pap
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Targu Mures, ROU
| | - Raluca Niculescu
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Targu Mures, ROU
| | - Maria Catalina Popelea
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Targu Mures, ROU
| | - Ovidiu S Cotoi
- Physiopathology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Targu Mures, ROU
| | - Bogdan Cordoș
- Center of Experimental and Imaging Studies, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Targu Mures, ROU
| | - Horatiu-Paul Domnariu
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Oradea, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Oradea, ROU
| | - Andrei Marin
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucuresti, ROU
| | - Andrei Marian Feier
- Orthopaedics, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Targu Mures, ROU
| | - Camelia David
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Emergency County Hospital Targu Mures, Targu Mures, ROU
| | - Cristian Vintila
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Emergency County Hospital Targu Mures, Targu Mures, ROU
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Manzanera Esteve IV, Wang F, Reed JL, Qi HX, Thayer W, Gore JC, Chen LM. Model-based parcellation of diffusion MRI of injured spinal cord predicts hand use impairment and recovery in squirrel monkeys. Behav Brain Res 2024; 459:114808. [PMID: 38081518 PMCID: PMC10865381 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
A mathematical model-based parcellation of magnetic resonance diffusion tensor images (DTI) has been developed to quantify progressive changes in three types of tissues - grey (GM), white matter (WM), and damaged spinal cord tissue, along with behavioral assessments over a 6 month period following targeted spinal cord injuries (SCI) in monkeys. Sigmoid Gompertz function based fittings of DTI metrics provide early indicators that correlate with, and predict, recovery of hand grasping behavior. Our three tissue pool model provided unbiased, data-driven segmentation of spinal cord images and identified DTI metrics that can serve as reliable biomarkers of severity of spinal cord injuries and predictors of behavioral outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac V Manzanera Esteve
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Feng Wang
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jamie L Reed
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Hui Xin Qi
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Wesley Thayer
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - John C Gore
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Li Min Chen
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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