title: The development of a ε-polycaprolactone scaffold for central nervous system repair.
abstract: Potential treatment strategies for the repair of spinal cord injury (SCI) currently favor a combinatorial approach incorporating several factors, including exogenous cell transplantation and biocompatible scaffolds. The use of scaffolds for bridging the gap at the injury site is very appealing although there has been little investigation into the central nervous system neural cell interaction and survival on such scaffolds before implantation. Previously, we demonstrated that aligned microgrooves 12.5-25 μm wide on ε-polycaprolactone (PCL) promoted aligned neurite orientation and supported myelination. In this study, we identify the appropriate substrate and its topographical features required for the design of a three-dimensional scaffold intended for transplantation in SCI. Using an established myelinating culture system of dissociated spinal cord cells, recapitulating many of the features of the intact spinal cord, we demonstrate that astrocytes plated on the topography secrete soluble factors(s) that delay oligodendrocyte differentiation, but do not prevent myelination. However, as myelination does occur after a further 10-12 days in culture, this does not prevent the use of PCL as a scaffold material as part of a combined strategy for the repair of SCI.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Donoghue
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lamond
authors.forename: Stephanie D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Boomkamp
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Nikolaj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gadegaard
authors.forename: Mathis O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Riehle
authors.forename: Susan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Barnett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008422:Materials Testing; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone