Research Information System
XVIII. Tıbbi Biyoloji ve Genetik Kongresi, Ankara, Turkey, 26 - 29 October 2023, pp.1-5, (Summary Text)
Objective: Spinal cord
injuries are very common worldwide and dramatically affect life quality of the patients.
Although there is a partial regeneration capacity for peripheral nerves, the functional
recovery is very difficult due to the inhibitory microenvironment of the
central nervous system. The developments in the fields of biomaterials and
nanomedicine are very promising considering the difficulties and unsatisfactory
results in traditional treatments. The aim of this study was to develop a nerve
guidance conduit with micro-channeled topography, gold nanoparticle (AuNPs)
conductive and modified with BDNF/NGF/IKVAV-pentapeptide molecules for
regeneration of the rat spinal cord injury.
Materials and Methods: The smooth
surfaced and micro-channeled (1 micron width) polycaprolactone
(PCL)/polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) hybrid film scaffolds were fabricated
using electron beam lithography and spin coating techniques. The surfaces of
the scaffolds were made conductive by using two different materials (AuNPs and
polypyrrole: PPy). In addition, the scaffold surfaces were modified with
various biomolecules (BDNF/NGF/IKVAV-pentapeptide). The prepared tubular nerve
guidance conduits were implanted into the right lateral hemisection injury site
performed in the Sprague Dawley rats. Behavioral studies, histological
staining and Western blot analyses were performed at the 5th and 10th weeks following
implantation.
Results: The designed PCL/PLGA implant
material generally showed good integration with the tissue and was degraded in
the process. The most optimal results for nerve regeneration were obtained from
the micro-channeled and AuNPs conductive group modified with neural factors. Micro-topography,
neural factors, and suitable surface conductivity (AuNPs) alone did not provide
effective regeneration, but all together promoted optimal neural recovery with
synergistic effect. On the other hand, the PPy modified group and the smooth
surfaced scaffold group did not provide a desired level of nerve regeneration.
Conclusion: In this study a
functional channeled and AuNPs conductive PCL/PLGA tubular nerve guidance
conduit with modified BDNF/NGF/IKVAV-pentapeptide molecules has been developed
for regeneration of the rat spinal cord injury in long-term period. The developed
micro/nano-designed PCL/PLGA scaffolds can be used as nerve conduits to provide
optimal axonal guidance and neural regeneration required for recovery of
function after various nerve injuries.