Polycaprolactone electrospun fiber scaffold loaded with iPSCs-NSCs and ASCs as a novel tissue engineering scaffold for the treatment of spinal cord injury

International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2018 · DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S175914 · Published: January 1, 2018

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a traumatic disease that leads to disability. A novel tissue engineering scaffold was synthesized to explore nerve repair on SCI. The study uses a combination of polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds, actived Schwann cells (ASCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells -derived neural stem cells (iPSC-NSCs) for treating SCI in rats. The results showed that the tissue engineering scaffold treatment could increase tissue remodeling and promote motor function recovery in a transection SCI model, providing evidence for its potential as a clinically viable treatment.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

60 Wistar rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The iPSCs displayed similar characteristics to embryonic stem cells and were efficiently differentiated into neural stem cells in vitro.
2
Transplantation of the cell-loaded PCL scaffolds reduced the volume of lesion cavity and improved locomotor recovery of rats with SCI.
3
The degree of spinal cord recovery and remodeling may be closely related to nerve growth factor and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor.

Research Summary

This study explores a novel tissue engineering scaffold composed of PCL electrospun fiber membrane loaded with iPSCs-NSCs and ASCs for treating spinal cord injury (SCI). The cell-containing PCL scaffolds exhibited good biodegradability and biocompatibility, promoting tissue remodeling and secretion of neurotrophic factors in vitro and in vivo. The engineered scaffold promoted motor function recovery in a rat SCI model, suggesting its potential as a clinically viable therapeutic strategy for SCI in the future.

Practical Implications

Clinical Treatment

Cell-containing PCL scaffolds may be a clinically viable therapeutic strategy for SCI in the future.

Regenerative Medicine

The study supports the use of tissue engineering scaffolds to promote nerve regeneration after SCI.

Stem Cell Research

The research provides insights into using iPSCs-derived NSCs for SCI treatment, addressing ethical concerns associated with using human NSCs.

Study Limitations

1
The study did not continue to explore the cell’s activity and proliferation ability on the PCL.
2
The study did not observe whether there was tumor formation at the spinal cord after cell transplantation.
3
The specific epigenetic mechanisms of cell transplantation for SCI should be further elucidated.

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