title: Development and characterization of a PHB-HV-based 3D scaffold for a tissue engineering and cell-therapy combinatorial approach for spinal cord injury regeneration.
abstract: Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to devastating neurological deficits. Several tissue engineering (TE)-based approaches have been investigated for repairing this condition. Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB-HV) is found to be particularly attractive for TE applications due to its properties, such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, thermoplasticity and piezoelectricity. Hence, this report addresses the development and characterization of PHB-HV-based 3D scaffolds, produced by freeze-drying, aimed to SCI treatment. The obtained scaffolds reveal an anisotropic morphology with a fully interconnected network of pores. In vitro studies demonstrate a lack of cytotoxic effect of PHB-HV scaffolds. Direct contact assays also reveal their ability to support the culture of CNS-derived cells and mesenchymal-like stem cells from different sources. Finally, histocompatibility studies show that PHB-HV scaffolds are well tolerated by the host tissue, and do not negatively impact the left hindlimb locomotor function recovery. Therefore results herein presented suggest that PHB-HV scaffolds may be suitable for SCI treatment.
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, 4806-909, Taipas, Guimarães, Portugal; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho-Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-Associate Laboratory, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Silvina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ribeiro-Samy
authors.forename: Nuno A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Vitor M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Correlo
authors.forename: Joana S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Fraga
authors.forename: Luísa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Andreia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teixeira-Castro
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leite-Almeida
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gimble
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: António J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.forename: Rui L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Reis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005612:Freeze Drying; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016062:Porosity; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D000091402:Prohibitins; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D000091402:Prohibitins; C000717328:PHB protein, human; C000717332:Phb protein, rat; C052620:poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-(3-hydroxyvalerate); D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
keywords: PHB-HV 3D scaffolds; biocompatibility; cell-based therapy; spinal cord injury regeneration; tissue engineering