A Combination Tissue Engineering Strategy for Schwann Cell-Induced Spinal Cord Repair
Abstract
This study proposes a novel tissue engineering strategy to promote functional recovery after spinal cord injury. The approach utilizes piezoelectric conduits, neurotrophins and Schwann cells (SCs) to promote axonal regeneration. Piezoelectric materials provide electrical stimulation in response to minute mechanical deformation. By providing a strategy that can stimulate regeneration through physical as well as biochemical cues, axonal regeneration can be achieved into, through and out of conduit as well as into the caudal cord to improve functional recovery. This project is (1) evaluating different designs of piezoelectric conduits with SCs with or without Matrigel and (2) determining if axons extend into the caudal spinal cord parenchyma following the controlled release of neurotrophins at and below the SC conduit. Findings to date demonstrate that in the rat complete transection model, axons extend along the length of the conduit when the conduit is filled with aligned fibers and improved SC survival is achieved using this design when SCs are combined with Matrigel. The fibrous layers consisting of aligned fibers that fill the conduit enable additional contact guidance for directed axon regeneration along the rostral/caudal axis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1033520
Entities
People
- Mary Bunge
- Mesut Sahin
- Siliang Wu
- Sinan Gok
- Treena Livingston Arinzeh
- Yee-shuan Lee
Organizations
- New Jersey Institute of Technology