Implantation of polymer scaffolds seeded with neural stem cells in a canine spinal cord injury model.
OBJECTIVE
Combinatorial approaches employing diverse therapeutic modalities are required for clinically relevant repair of injured spinal cord in human patients. Before translation into the clinic, the feasibility and therapeutic potential of such combinatorial strategies in larger animal species need to be examined.


METHODS
The present study tested the feasibility of implanting polymer scaffolds via neural stem cell (NSC) delivery in a canine spinal cord injury (SCI) model. The poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds seeded with human NSC were implanted into hemisected canine spinal cord.


RESULTS
The PLGA scaffolds bridged tissue defects and were nicely integrated with residual canine spinal cord tissue. Grafted NSC survived the implantation procedure and showed migratory behavior to residual spinal cord tissue. Ectopic expression of a therapeutic neurotrophin-3 gene was also possible in NSC seeded within the PLGA scaffolds.


CONCLUSIONS
Our description of a canine SCI model would be a valuable resource for pre-clinical trials of combinatorial strategies in larger animal models.
Kim
Byung Gon
BG
Brain Disease Research Center, Institute for Medical Sciences and Department of Neurology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
Kang
Young Mi
YM
Phi
Ji Hoon
JH
Kim
Yoon-Ha
YH
Hwang
Dong Hoon
DH
Choi
Jun Young
JY
Ryu
Sun
S
Elastal
Alaa-Elden
AE
Paek
Sun Ha
SH
Wang
Kyu-Chang
KC
Lee
Seung-Hoon
SH
Kim
Seung U
SU
Yoon
Byung-Woo
BW
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D020933:Neurotrophin 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid