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Dissertation
Alginate strings and their applications in spinal cord regeneration
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
2007
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-1296
Abstract
Spinal cord injury leads to severing of neurons of the central nervous system (CNS) that are responsible for communication between the brain and other parts of the body. The presence of inhibiting factors following injury limits neuronal regeneration leading to paraplegia or quadriplegia depending on the level of the injury. The goal of this study was to design and develop a graft that would aid in neuronal adhesion as well as enhance neuronal regeneration and also act as a physical bridge at the site of injury. Alginate a polysaccharide derived from brown sea weed was employed in making the graft because of its ability to form gels in the presence of a polycation solution and also allows modification with growth permissive peptides. YIGSR a pentapeptide of laminin has been found to enhance neuronal adhesion. The YIGSR modified alginate graft was made in the form of strings so that it could act as a bridge at the site of injury. Rat abdominal fibroblasts were genetically engineered by ex vivo gene therapy to secrete human brain derived nerve growth factor (BDNF) that would enhance neuronal growth. These cells were incorporated in the modified alginate solution before they were made into strings, and the strings were then coated with a high molecular weight polyamine. This polyamine coating would prevent high molecular weight immunoglobulins like IgG from entering the graft interacting with the fibroblasts while allowing the lower molecular weight BDNF to escape to the outside. This graft could then be frozen and stored under liquid nitrogen and thawed when needed, and placed at the injury site without immune suppression.
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Details
- Title
- Alginate strings and their applications in spinal cord regeneration
- Creators
- Saravanan Kanakasabai - DU
- Contributors
- Margaret A. Wheatley (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems (1997-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 1296; 991014632179504721