Three-dimensional aligned nanofibers-hydrogel scaffold for controlled non-viral drug/gene delivery to direct axon regeneration in spinal cord injury treatment.
Spinal cord injuries (SCI) often lead to persistent neurological dysfunction due to failure in axon regeneration. Unfortunately, currently established treatments, such as direct drug administration, do not effectively treat SCI due to rapid drug clearance from our bodies. Here, we introduce a three-dimensional aligned nanofibers-hydrogel scaffold as a bio-functionalized platform to provide sustained non-viral delivery of proteins and nucleic acid therapeutics (small non-coding RNAs), along with synergistic contact guidance for nerve injury treatment. A hemi-incision model at cervical level 5 in the rat spinal cord was chosen to evaluate the efficacy of this scaffold design. Specifically, aligned axon regeneration was observed as early as one week post-injury. In addition, no excessive inflammatory response and scar tissue formation was triggered. Taken together, our results demonstrate the potential of our scaffold for neural tissue engineering applications.
School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637459, Singapore.
Lan Huong
LH
Nguyen
School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637459, Singapore.|Department of Spine Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China.
Mingyong
M
Gao
School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637459, Singapore.
Junquan
J
Lin
School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.|Research Center of Reproduction, Development and Growth, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.|State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.|Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China.
Wutian
W
Wu
The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science &Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, PR China.
Jun
J
Wang
School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637459, Singapore.|Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore.
Sing Yian
SY
Chew
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000378:metabolism; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000074586:Remyelination; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
D020100:Hydrogels