A coaxially extruded heterogeneous core–shell fiber with Schwann cells and neural stem cells

Regenerative Biomaterials, 2020 · DOI: 10.1093/rb/rbz037 · Published: January 1, 2020

Spinal Cord Injury Regenerative Medicine Biomedical

Simple Explanation

This study explores a novel approach to spinal cord injury (SCI) treatment using fully cellular grafts. These grafts, composed of Schwann cells (SCs) and neural stem cells (NSCs), are designed to mimic autografts for better regeneration. The researchers fabricated core–shell alginate hydrogel fibers containing SCs in the shell and NSCs in the core, mimicking the structure of nerve fibers in vivo. This spatial arrangement aims to enhance cell communication and promote neural differentiation. The results showed that SCs in the alginate shell expressed more neurotrophic factors, and NSCs co-cultured with SCs exhibited enhanced proliferation and differentiation. This suggests a potential application for SCI repair.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Rat Schwann cell line RSC96 and mouse neural stem cell line NE-4C

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Schwann cells (SCs) encapsulated in the alginate hydrogel shell expressed more genes of neurotrophic factors compared to those cultured in petri dishes, indicating enhanced neurotrophic support.
2
Neural stem cells (NSCs) co-cultured with SCs in the core–shell fiber showed enhanced proliferation and differentiation tendency, suggesting that SCs promote NSC development.
3
The core diameter of SC-NSC fiber was slightly smaller than that of NSC fiber during 9-day culturing, indicating that the NSCs co-cultured with SCs had a higher tendency to differentiate.

Research Summary

The study successfully fabricated SC-NSC core–shell fibers using a coaxial nozzle, encapsulating SCs in an alginate hydrogel shell and NSCs in the core. SCs in the shell exhibited higher expression of neurotrophic factor genes compared to traditional 2D cultures, suggesting enhanced neurotrophic support within the 3D fiber structure. The co-culture of SCs and NSCs in the core–shell fiber enhanced overall cell proliferation and promoted the differentiation tendency of NSCs, indicating a potential for SCI repair.

Practical Implications

SCI Therapy Development

This model shows strong potential for application in spinal cord injury repair.

3D Bioprinting Advancements

The research advances 3D bioprinting techniques for creating complex cellular structures, offering a novel approach for tissue engineering.

Cellular Communication

The study demonstrates the importance of cell-cell interactions in promoting cell proliferation and differentiation.

Study Limitations

1
Heterogeneous cell lines (rat and mouse) were used, which might not fully represent the in vivo scenario.
2
Primary cells were not used, limiting the estimation of regeneration potential.
3
The study lacks in vivo validation to confirm the regenerative effects in SCI models.

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