1
|
Doulames VM, Marquardt LM, Hefferon ME, Baugh NJ, Suhar RA, Wang AT, Dubbin KR, Weimann JM, Palmer TD, Plant GW, Heilshorn SC. Custom-engineered hydrogels for delivery of human iPSC-derived neurons into the injured cervical spinal cord. Biomaterials 2024; 305:122400. [PMID: 38134472 PMCID: PMC10846596 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Cervical damage is the most prevalent type of spinal cord injury clinically, although few preclinical research studies focus on this anatomical region of injury. Here we present a combinatorial therapy composed of a custom-engineered, injectable hydrogel and human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived deep cortical neurons. The biomimetic hydrogel has a modular design that includes a protein-engineered component to allow customization of the cell-adhesive peptide sequence and a synthetic polymer component to allow customization of the gel mechanical properties. In vitro studies with encapsulated iPSC-neurons were used to select a bespoke hydrogel formulation that maintains cell viability and promotes neurite extension. Following injection into the injured cervical spinal cord in a rat contusion model, the hydrogel biodegraded over six weeks without causing any adverse reaction. Compared to cell delivery using saline, the hydrogel significantly improved the reproducibility of cell transplantation and integration into the host tissue. Across three metrics of animal behavior, this combinatorial therapy significantly improved sensorimotor function by six weeks post transplantation. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that design of a combinatorial therapy that includes a gel customized for a specific fate-restricted cell type can induce regeneration in the injured cervical spinal cord.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V M Doulames
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - L M Marquardt
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - M E Hefferon
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - N J Baugh
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - R A Suhar
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - A T Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - K R Dubbin
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - J M Weimann
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - T D Palmer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - G W Plant
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - S C Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Suhar RA, Doulames VM, Liu Y, Hefferon ME, Figueroa O, Buabbas H, Heilshorn SC. Hyaluronan and elastin-like protein (HELP) gels significantly improve microsphere retention in the myocardium. Biomater Sci 2022; 10:2590-2608. [PMID: 35411353 PMCID: PMC9123900 DOI: 10.1039/d1bm01890f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally, and delivery of therapeutic cargo (e.g., particles loaded with proteins, drugs, or genes and cells) through direct injection into the myocardium is a promising clinical intervention. However, retention of deliverables to the contracting myocardium is low, with as much as 60-90% of payload being lost within 24 hr. Commercially-available injectable hydrogels, including Matrigel, have been hypothesized to increase payload retention but have not yielded significant improvements in quantified analyses. Here, we assess a recombinant hydrogel composed of chemically modified hyaluronan and elastin-like protein (HELP) as an alternative injectable carrier to increase cargo retention. HELP is crosslinked using dynamic covalent bonds, and tuning the hyaluronan chemistry significantly alters hydrogel mechanical properties including stiffness, stress relaxation rate, and ease of injectability through a needle or catheter. These materials can be injected even after complete crosslinking, extending the time window for surgical delivery. We show that HELP gels significantly improve in vivo retention of microsphere cargo compared to Matrigel, both 1 day and 7 days post-injection directly into the rat myocardium. These data suggest that HELP gels may assist with the clinical translation of therapeutic cargo designed for delivery into the contracting myocardium by preventing acute cargo loss.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Riley A Suhar
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
| | - Vanessa M Doulames
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Yueming Liu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
| | - Meghan E Hefferon
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | | | - Hana Buabbas
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, 94305, USA
| | - Sarah C Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Suhar RA, Marquardt LM, Song S, Buabbas H, Doulames VM, Johansson PK, Klett KC, Dewi RE, Enejder AMK, Plant GW, George PM, Heilshorn SC. Elastin-like Proteins to Support Peripheral Nerve Regeneration in Guidance Conduits. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 7:4209-4220. [PMID: 34510904 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) offer an alternative to harvested nerve grafts for treating peripheral nerve injury (PNI). NGCs have been made from both naturally derived and synthesized materials. While naturally derived materials typically have an increased capacity for bioactivity, synthesized materials have better material control, including tunability and reproducibility. Protein engineering is an alternative strategy that can bridge the benefits of these two classes of materials by designing cell-responsive materials that are also systematically tunable and consistent. Here, we tested a recombinantly derived elastin-like protein (ELP) hydrogel as an intraluminal filler in a rat sciatic nerve injury model. We demonstrated that ELPs enhance the probability of forming a tissue bridge between the proximal and distal nerve stumps compared to an empty silicone conduit across the length of a 10 mm nerve gap. These tissue bridges have evidence of myelinated axons, and electrophysiology demonstrated that regenerated axons innervated distal muscle groups. Animals implanted with an ELP-filled conduit had statistically higher functional control at 6 weeks than those that had received an empty silicone conduit, as evaluated by the sciatic functional index. Taken together, our data support the conclusion that ELPs support peripheral nerve regeneration in acute complete transection injuries when used as an intraluminal filler. These results support the further study of protein engineered recombinant ELP hydrogels as a reproducible, off-the-shelf alternative for regeneration of peripheral nerves.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Riley A Suhar
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Laura M Marquardt
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States.,Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Shang Song
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Hana Buabbas
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Vanessa M Doulames
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Patrik K Johansson
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Katarina C Klett
- Program in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Ruby E Dewi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Annika M K Enejder
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Giles W Plant
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Paul M George
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States.,Stanford Stroke Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Sarah C Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Jin MC, Medress ZA, Azad TD, Doulames VM, Veeravagu A. Stem cell therapies for acute spinal cord injury in humans: a review. Neurosurg Focus 2020; 46:E10. [PMID: 30835679 DOI: 10.3171/2018.12.focus18602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in stem cell biology present significant opportunities to advance clinical applications of stem cell-based therapies for spinal cord injury (SCI). In this review, the authors critically analyze the basic science and translational evidence that supports the use of various stem cell sources, including induced pluripotent stem cells, oligodendrocyte precursor cells, and mesenchymal stem cells. They subsequently explore recent advances in stem cell biology and discuss ongoing clinical translation efforts, including combinatorial strategies utilizing scaffolds, biogels, and growth factors to augment stem cell survival, function, and engraftment. Finally, the authors discuss the evolution of stem cell therapies for SCI by providing an overview of completed (n = 18) and ongoing (n = 9) clinical trials.
Collapse
|
5
|
Marquardt LM, Doulames VM, Wang AT, Dubbin K, Suhar RA, Kratochvil MJ, Medress ZA, Plant GW, Heilshorn SC. Designer, injectable gels to prevent transplanted Schwann cell loss during spinal cord injury therapy. Sci Adv 2020; 6:eaaz1039. [PMID: 32270042 PMCID: PMC7112763 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz1039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Transplantation of patient-derived Schwann cells is a promising regenerative medicine therapy for spinal cord injuries; however, therapeutic efficacy is compromised by inefficient cell delivery. We present a materials-based strategy that addresses three common causes of transplanted cell death: (i) membrane damage during injection, (ii) cell leakage from the injection site, and (iii) apoptosis due to loss of endogenous matrix. Using protein engineering and peptide-based assembly, we designed injectable hydrogels with modular cell-adhesive and mechanical properties. In a cervical contusion model, our hydrogel matrix resulted in a greater than 700% improvement in successful Schwann cell transplantation. The combination therapy of cells and gel significantly improved the spatial distribution of transplanted cells within the endogenous tissue. A reduction in cystic cavitation and neuronal loss were also observed with substantial increases in forelimb strength and coordination. Using an injectable hydrogel matrix, therefore, can markedly improve the outcomes of cellular transplantation therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura M. Marquardt
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Vanessa M. Doulames
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Alice T. Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Karen Dubbin
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Riley A. Suhar
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michael J. Kratochvil
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - Zachary A. Medress
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Giles W. Plant
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Corresponding author. (G.W.P.); (S.C.H.)
| | - Sarah C. Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Corresponding author. (G.W.P.); (S.C.H.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Doulames VM, Plant GW. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies for Cervical Spinal Cord Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:530. [PMID: 27070598 PMCID: PMC4848986 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17040530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Revised: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cervical-level injuries account for the majority of presented spinal cord injuries (SCIs) to date. Despite the increase in survival rates due to emergency medicine improvements, overall quality of life remains poor, with patients facing variable deficits in respiratory and motor function. Therapies aiming to ameliorate symptoms and restore function, even partially, are urgently needed. Current therapeutic avenues in SCI seek to increase regenerative capacities through trophic and immunomodulatory factors, provide scaffolding to bridge the lesion site and promote regeneration of native axons, and to replace SCI-lost neurons and glia via intraspinal transplantation. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a clinically viable means to accomplish this; they have no major ethical barriers, sources can be patient-matched and collected using non-invasive methods. In addition, the patient’s own cells can be used to establish a starter population capable of producing multiple cell types. To date, there is only a limited pool of research examining iPSC-derived transplants in SCI—even less research that is specific to cervical injury. The purpose of the review herein is to explore both preclinical and clinical recent advances in iPSC therapies with a detailed focus on cervical spinal cord injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa M Doulames
- Stanford Partnership for Spinal Cord Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive Stanford, California, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Giles W Plant
- Stanford Partnership for Spinal Cord Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive Stanford, California, CA 94305, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Doulames VM, Vilcans M, Lee S, Shea TB. Social interaction attenuates the extent of secondary neuronal damage following closed head injury in mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 9:275. [PMID: 26528156 PMCID: PMC4606018 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recovery following Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can vary tremendously among individuals. Lifestyle following injury, including differential social interactions, may modulate the extent of secondary injury following TBI. To examine this possibility under controlled conditions, closed head injury (CHI) was induced in C57Bl6 mice using a standardized weight drop device after which mice were either housed in isolation or with their original cagemates (“socially-housed”) for 4 weeks. CHI transiently impaired novel object recognition (NOR) in both isolated and social mice, confirming physical and functional injury. By contrast, Y maze navigation was impaired in isolated but not social mice at 1–4 weeks post CHI. CHI increased excitotoxic signaling in hippocampal slices from all mice, which was transiently exacerbated by isolation at 2 weeks post CHI. CHI slightly increased reactive oxygen species and did not alter levels of amyloid beta (Abeta), total or phospho-tau, total or phosphorylated neurofilaments. CHI increased serum corticosterone in both groups, which was exacerbated by isolation. These findings support the hypothesis that socialization may attenuate secondary damage following TBI. In addition, a dominance hierarchy was noted among socially-housed mice, in which the most submissive mouse displayed indices of stress in the above analyses that were statistically identical to those observed for isolated mice. This latter finding underscores that the nature and extent of social interaction may need to vary among individuals to provide therapeutic benefit.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa M Doulames
- Center for Neurobiology and Neurodegeneration Research, UMass Lowell Lowell, MA, USA ; Biomedical and Biotechnology Program, University of Massachusetts Lowell Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Meghan Vilcans
- Center for Neurobiology and Neurodegeneration Research, UMass Lowell Lowell, MA, USA ; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Sangmook Lee
- Center for Neurobiology and Neurodegeneration Research, UMass Lowell Lowell, MA, USA ; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Thomas B Shea
- Center for Neurobiology and Neurodegeneration Research, UMass Lowell Lowell, MA, USA ; Biomedical and Biotechnology Program, University of Massachusetts Lowell Lowell, MA, USA ; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell Lowell, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|