The potential of Antheraea pernyi silk for spinal cord repair

Scientific Reports, 2017 · DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14280-5 · Published: October 9, 2017

Simple Explanation

This study investigates the potential of Antheraea pernyi silk filaments (DAPF) for spinal cord repair, focusing on their ability to support neuron growth, minimize immune response, and provide suitable mechanical properties. The researchers found that DAPF promotes excellent growth of central nervous system (CNS) neurons in vitro, does not activate microglia (immune cells in the CNS), and possesses stiffness properties suitable for spinal cord repair. The study concludes that A. pernyi silk meets the major biochemical and biomaterial criteria for spinal repair and could be a key component in combined strategies for spinal cord repair.

Study Duration

5 Months

Participants

Adult rats, Sprague Dawley rats at postnatal days 0–1 and 3-6

Evidence Level

In vitro and In vivo Study

Key Findings

1
DAPF promotes cell adhesion, contact guidance, and rapid neurite extension in CNS neurons, with the RGD tripeptide sequence playing a key role in facilitating cell binding and growth.
2
DAPF induces a minimal immune response in vitro and in vivo, showing no activation of microglia, which is crucial for avoiding inflammation and foreign body reactions in spinal cord repair.
3
DAPF has suitable mechanical properties for spinal cord repair, with stiffness closely matching that of adult rat spinal cord tissue, which is important for minimizing glial cell activation and promoting regeneration.

Research Summary

The study demonstrates that degummed Antheraea pernyi filaments (DAPF) support excellent outgrowth of CNS neurons in vitro, due to cell attachment to the high density of arginine-glycine-aspartic acid tripeptide present in DAPF. DAPF exhibits stiffness properties well-suited to spinal cord repair and induces no activation of microglia, the CNS resident immune cells, both in vitro and in vivo. The gradual degradation of DAPF in vitro, with a corresponding decrease in tensile properties, further supports its potential as a biomaterial for spinal cord repair.

Practical Implications

Spinal Cord Repair

DAPF shows promise as a structural component for spinal cord repair devices, offering a biomaterial with good biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and the ability to support neuron growth.

Brain Damage Repair

The properties of DAPF suggest potential for repairing brain damage by guiding axon growth in neurons derived from stem cells.

Combinatorial Therapies

DAPF may be a key component in combinatorial strategies for spinal repair, where it can be combined with growth-promoting factors and electrical stimulation.

Study Limitations

1
Further in vivo studies are needed to assess blood vessel formation in parallel with axon regeneration using DAPF scaffolds.
2
In-depth in vitro and in vivo studies of astrocyte interaction with DAPF will be carried out in future to confirm minimal astrocyte activation.
3
Direct mechanical comparison with hydrogel materials was not conducted because of inherent differences in the nature of the materials

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