Thermoreversible laminin-functionalized hydrogel for neural tissue engineering.
Traumatic injury to the central nervous system (CNS) triggers cell death and deafferentation, which may activate a cascade of cellular and network disturbances. These events often result in the formation of irregularly shaped lesions comprised of necrotic tissue and/or a fluid-filled cavity. Tissue engineering represents a promising treatment strategy for the injured neural tissue. To facilitate minimally invasive delivery of a tissue engineered system, a thermoreversible polymer is an attractive scaffold candidate. We have developed a bioactive scaffold for neural tissue engineering by tethering laminin-1 (LN) to methylcellulose (MC), a thermoresponsive hydrogel. The base MC chain was oxidized via sodium m-periodate to increase MC tethering capacity. Protein immobilization was facilitated by a Schiff base reaction between primary amine groups on LN and the carbonyl groups of the oxidized MC chain. Immunoassays demonstrated tethering of LN at 1.6 +/- 0.5 ng of LN per milligram of MC. Rheological measurements for different MC-LN constructs indicated MC composition- and MC treatment-dependent effects on solution-gelation transition temperature. Cellular assays with primary rat cortical neurons demonstrated enhanced cell adhesion and viability on LN-functionalized MC when compared with base and oxidized MC. This bioadhesive thermoresponsive scaffold may provide a robust delivery vehicle to injured CNS tissue for neural cell transplantation strategies.
Laboratory for Neuroengineering, W.H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology/Emory University, Atlanta, 30332-0535, USA.
Sarah E
SE
Stabenfeldt
Andrés J
AJ
García
Michelle C
MC
LaPlaca
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology; D020100:Hydrogels; D007797:Laminin; D008747:Methylcellulose; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D023822:Tissue Engineering
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D007797:Laminin; C121346:laminin 1; D008747:Methylcellulose