A partition-type tubular scaffold loaded with PDGF-releasing microspheres for spinal cord repair facilitates the directional migration and growth of cells

Neural Regeneration Research, 2018 · DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.235061 · Published: July 1, 2018

Spinal Cord Injury Regenerative Medicine Biomedical

Simple Explanation

This study focuses on creating a tissue-engineered scaffold to help repair spinal cord injuries. The scaffold is designed to mimic the structure of the spinal cord and support the growth of cells. The scaffold is made of chitosan and contains microspheres that release a growth factor called PDGF-BB. PDGF-BB attracts cells to the scaffold, promoting their growth and differentiation. The study found that the scaffold is biocompatible and can promote the directional migration and growth of neural progenitor cells, suggesting it could be a promising approach for spinal cord repair.

Study Duration

4 weeks (in vitro release study)

Participants

Human BMSCs (5 cases, males, average age of 40 years)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Pre-freezing the chitosan scaffold at −20°C for 2 hours significantly increased the yield of partition-type tubular scaffolds.
2
Using 30 μL of 25% glutaraldehyde ensured optimal crosslinking of PDGF-MSs, leading to sustained release of PDGF-BB.
3
The PDGF-MS-containing tubular scaffold showed suitable biocompatibility towards MUSE-NPCs and promoted their directional migration and growth.

Research Summary

This study fabricated a partition-type tubular scaffold loaded with PDGF-releasing microspheres for spinal cord repair. The scaffold was designed to mimic the anatomical features of the spinal cord and to provide sustained release of PDGF-BB to promote cell migration and growth. In vitro results showed that the scaffold was biocompatible with MUSE-NPCs and facilitated their directional migration and growth, suggesting it could be a promising model for tissue-engineered spinal cord grafts.

Practical Implications

Spinal Cord Repair

The combination of a partition-type tubular scaffold, PDGF-MSs and MUSE-NPCs may have therapeutic potential for spinal cord injuries.

Drug Delivery

Chitosan-based microspheres can be optimized for sustained release of growth factors like PDGF-BB, offering a novel approach for neural repair.

Tissue Engineering

Partition-type tubular scaffolds can be designed to mimic the complex structure of the spinal cord, providing a supportive environment for cell growth and regeneration.

Study Limitations

1
In vitro study, further in vivo studies are needed.
2
The porosity of the scaffold tube walls was low.
3
Further study is needed to fully elucidate the effects of PDGF-BB on the growth and differentiation of MUSE-NPCs.

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