title: Neuroprotective effect of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes on spinal cord injury in rats.
abstract: Traumatic injuries to the brain and spinal cord affect a large percentage of the world's population. However, there are currently no effective treatments for these central nervous system (CNS) injuries. In our study, we evaluated the neuroprotective role of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) carrying brain derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF), nogo-66 receptor (NgR) and Ras homolog gene family member A (RhoA) in spinal cord injury (SCI). Our results showed that transfection into rat cortical neurons with BDNF-DNA significantly elevated the expression of BDNF both in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, transfection with NgR-siRNA and RhoA-siRNA resulted in an obvious down-regulation of NgR and RhoA in neuron cells and in injured spinal cords. In addition, the functionalized MWCNTs carrying BDNF-DNA, NgR-siRNA and RhoA-siRNA exhibited remarkable therapeutic effects on injured spinal cord. Taken together, our study demonstrates that functionalized MWCNTs have a potential therapeutic application on repair and regeneration of the CNS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Shenghao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yinghui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yaohua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yiling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jieqing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jiyao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004337:Drug Carriers; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D009185:Myelin Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D000070816:Nogo Receptor 1; D034622:RNA Interference; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D004337:Drug Carriers; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D000070816:Nogo Receptor 1; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C486581:Rtn4r protein, rat; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein
keywords: BDNF; NgR; RhoA; Spinal cord injury; multi-walled carbon nanotubes