A pilot study of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-g-polyethylene glycol and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-g-methylcellulose branched copolymers as injectable scaffolds for local delivery of neurotrophins and cellular transplants into the injured spinal cord
Lauren Conova, Jennifer Vernengo, Ying Jin, B. Timothy Himes, Birgit Neuhuber, Itzhak Fischer and Anthony Lowman
Journal of neurosurgery. Spine, v 15(6), pp 594-604
Clinical Neurology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Neurosciences & Neurology Science & Technology Surgery
Object. The authors investigated the feasibility of using injectable hydrogels, based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm), lightly crosslinked with polyethylene glycol (PEG) or methylcellulose (MC), to serve as injectable scaffolds for local delivery of neurotrophins and cellular transplants into the injured spinal cord. The primary aims of this work were to assess the biocompatibility of the scaffolds by evaluating graft cell survival and the host tissue immune response. The scaffolds were also evaluated for their ability to promote axonal growth through the action of released brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
Methods. The in vivo performance of PNIPAAm-g-PEG and PNIPAAm-g-MC was evaluated using a rodent model of spinal cord injury (SCI). The hydrogels were injected as viscous liquids into the injury site and formed space-filling hydrogels. The host immune response and biocompatibility of the scaffolds were evaluated at 2 weeks by histological and fluorescent immunohistochemical analysis. Commercially available matrices were used as a control and examined for comparison.
Results. Experiments showed that the scaffolds did not contribute to an injury-related inflammatory response. PNIPAAm-g-PEG was also shown to be an effective vehicle for delivery of cellular transplants and supported graft survival. Additionally, PNIPAAm-g-PEG and PNIPAAm-g-MC are permissive to axonal growth and can serve as injectable scaffolds for local delivery of BDNF.
Conclusions. Based on the results, the authors suggest that these copolymers are feasible injectable scaffolds for cell grafting into the injured spinal cord and for delivery of therapeutic factors. (DOI. 10.3171/2011.7.SPINEI1194)
A pilot study of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-g-polyethylene glycol and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-g-methylcellulose branched copolymers as injectable scaffolds for local delivery of neurotrophins and cellular transplants into the injured spinal cord
Creators
Lauren Conova - Drexel University
Jennifer Vernengo - Rowan University
Ying Jin - Drexel University
B. Timothy Himes - Drexel University
Birgit Neuhuber - Drexel University
Itzhak Fischer - Drexel University
Anthony Lowman - Drexel University
Publication Details
Journal of neurosurgery. Spine, v 15(6), pp 594-604
Publisher
Amer Assoc Neurological Surgeons
Number of pages
11
Grant note
NS061307 / NIH; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA
R21NS061307 / NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS)
Resource Type
Journal article
Language
English
Academic Unit
Neurobiology and Anatomy
Web of Science ID
WOS:000297450500004
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-83055193711
Other Identifier
991019167689804721
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