title: A novel approach to align adult neural stem cells on micropatterned conduits for peripheral nerve regeneration: a feasibility study.
abstract: There is a strong need for nerve-tissue engineering using the guide conduit and Schwann cells or neural stem cells (NSCs) with regeneration potential for injured peripheral nerves. In this study, micropatterned poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA) conduits were fabricated by microlithography and solvent-casting. The PLA conduits were seeded with the novel green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive adult mouse NSCs obtained using the patented method of one of the authors. About 85% of the seeded NSCs were successfully aligned on the micropatterned conduits within 72 h and expressed the genes related to the production of neurotrophic factors. Gene expressions for the neurotrophic factors, such as nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor were upregulated by the micropatterned conduits at 72 h. The micropatterned PLA conduits seeded with the aligned NSCs were used to bridge the 10-mm sciatic nerve gaps in rats and were found to facilitate nerve repair and functional recovery during a period of 6 weeks compared with the nonseeded group. This model can be used to study the role of adult NSCs in peripheral-nerve regeneration in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan. shhsu@nchu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Shan-hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Chien-Hsiang
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Ing-Ming
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Chiu
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D015870:Gene Expression; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000628:therapy*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds