Electrical stimulation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in conductive scaffolds and the roles of voltage-gated ion channels.

A new three dimensional biomimetic hydrogel to deliver factors secreted by human mesenchymal stem cells in spinal cord injury.

Advances in biomaterial synthesis and fabrication, stem cell biology, bioimaging, microsurgery procedures, and microscale technologies have made minimally invasive therapeutics a viable tool in regenerative medicine. Therapeutics, herein defined as cells, biomaterials, biomolecules, and their combinations, can be delivered in a minimally invasive way to regenerate different tissues in the body, such as bone, cartilage, pancreas, cardiac, skeletal muscle, liver, skin, and neural tissues. Sophisticated methods of tracking, sensing, and stimulation of therapeutics in vivo using nano-biomaterials and soft bioelectronic devices provide great opportunities to further develop minimally invasive and regenerative therapeutics (MIRET). In general, minimally invasive delivery methods offer high yield with low risk of complications and reduced costs compared to conventional delivery methods. Here, minimally invasive approaches for delivering regenerative therapeutics into the body are reviewed. The use of MIRET to treat different tissues and organs is described. Although some clinical trials have been performed using MIRET, it is hoped that such therapeutics find wider applications to treat patients. Finally, some future perspective and challenges for this emerging field are highlighted.

/pdf/minimally-invasive-and-regenerative-therapeutics-5akt7gyucp.pdf

Minimally Invasive and Regenerative Therapeutics

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0963689718766279

Significant Improvement of Acute Complete Spinal Cord Injury Patients Diagnosed by a Combined Criteria Implanted with NeuroRegen Scaffolds and Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Axonal regeneration and formation of tripartite (axo-glial) junctions at damaged sites is a prerequisite for early repair of injured spinal cord. Transplantation of stem cells at such sites of damage which can generate both neuronal and glial population has gained impact in terms of recuperation upon infliction with spinal cord injury. In spite of the fact that a copious number of pre-clinical studies using different stem/progenitor cells have shown promising results at acute and subacute stages, at the chronic stages of injury their recovery rates have shown a drastic decline. Therefore, developing novel therapeutic strategies are the need of the hour in order to assuage secondary morbidity and effectuate improvement of the spinal cord injury (SCI)-afflicted patients’ quality of life. The present review aims at providing an overview of the current treatment strategies and also gives an insight into the potential cell-based therapies for the treatment of SCI.

Spinal cord injury: pathophysiology, treatment strategies, associated challenges, and future implications.

The loss of neurons and degeneration of axons after spinal cord injury result in the loss of sensory and motor functions. A bridging biomaterial construct that allows the axons to grow through has been investigated for the repair of injured spinal cord. Due to the hostility of the microenvironment in the lesion, multiple conditions need to be fulfilled to achieve improved functional recovery. A scaffold has been applied to bridge the gap of the lesion as contact guidance for axonal growth and to act as a vehicle to deliver stem cells in order to modify the microenvironment. Stem cells may improve functional recovery of the injured spinal cord by providing trophic support or directly replacing neurons and their support cells. Neural stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells have been seeded into biomaterial scaffolds and investigated for spinal cord regeneration. Both natural and synthetic biomaterials have increased stem cell survival in vivo by providing the cells with a controlled microenvironment in which cell growth and differentiation are facilitated. This optimal multi‒disciplinary approach of combining biomaterials, stem cells, and biomolecules offers a promising treatment for the injured spinal cord.

/pdf/repair-of-injured-spinal-cord-using-biomaterial-scaffolds-2oky0f5rwn.pdf

Repair of injured spinal cord using biomaterial scaffolds and stem cells

Axonal re-myelination in injured central nervous system (CNS) has been a scientific challenge. Focal delivery of Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells (OPCs) provides promising approach. We used a novel bioengineering technique to create co-electrospun nanofibers of Gelatin and Poly-ɛ-caprolactone (PCL) to be used as a scaffold for neural tissue regeneration. Growth and differentiation of Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) (from neonatal rat brain) on the scaffold were studied. Our study revealed that Gelatin/PCL nanofibers provide a hospitable substrate for OPC growth and differentiation. Our long term goal is to develop a scaffold that bridges the injured spinal cord (SC) and aid its functional recovery

/pdf/characterization-of-oligodendrocyte-progenitor-cell-1q4c7q0wid.pdf

Alex Moon

Papers

Repair of injured spinal cord using biomaterial scaffolds and stem cells

Characterization of oligodendrocyte progenitor cell differentiation on co-electrospun nanofibers of PCL with gelatin