A biodegradable hybrid inorganic nanoscaffold for advanced stem cell therapy

Nature Communications, 2018 · DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05599-2 · Published: August 9, 2018

Biomedical Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells

Simple Explanation

Stem cell transplantation holds promise for treating central nervous system (CNS) diseases, but faces challenges like low cell survival and incomplete differentiation. To address these hurdles, scientists have designed bioscaffolds that mimic the natural tissue microenvironment to deliver physical and soluble cues. To this end, we report a biodegradable hybrid inorganic (BHI) nanoscaffold-based method to improve the transplantation of human patient-derived neural stem cells (NSCs) and to control the differentiation of transplanted NSCs in a highly selective and efﬁcient way. Further, as a proof-of-concept demonstration, we combined the spatiotemporal delivery of therapeutic molecules with enhanced stem cell survival and differentiation using BHI-nanoscaffold in a mouse model of SCI.

Study Duration

7 Weeks

Participants

Adult mice (5-6 months old)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The 3D-MnO2 nanoscaffolds can improve neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth, through the enhanced laminin binding and focal adhesion-related pathways.
2
The developed MnO2 nanoscaffolds represent an innovative inorganic hybrid nanoscaffold system that can be biodegraded in vitro.
3
The 3D-MnO2-laminin hybrid nanoscaffolds can effectively and steadily promote neuronal differentiation of stem cells and neuronal behaviors for versatile stem cell therapies.

Research Summary

This work is based on the development of a biodegradable hybrid inorganic nanoscaffold and its utilization for the enhanced transplantation of stem cells into SCI sites. Our demonstrated nanoscaffold technology platform can be combined with other neurogenic drugs, as well as stem cell therapeutic efforts currently in development. Collectively, our developed hybrid nanoscaffold-based approach to control stem cell differentiation into neurons and promote neurite outgrowth would provide an alternative to help overcome the critical barriers that limit cellular therapies for many devastating injuries and diseases.

Practical Implications

Enhanced Stem Cell Therapy

The BHI nanoscaffolds show potential for improving stem cell transplantation, differentiation, and drug delivery for CNS diseases.

Tunable Biodegradation

The MnO2 nanoscaffolds offer controllable biodegradation rates, which can be tailored for specific neural tissue engineering applications.

Controlled Drug Delivery

The nanoscaffolds provide a platform for spatiotemporal controlled delivery of therapeutic molecules, enhancing neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth.

Study Limitations

1
Long-term cell fates of transplanted stem cells needs to be analyzed
2
It is critical to evaluate animal behavioral recovery from 3D-BHI nanoscaffold treated conditions using larger animal sets
3
Not specified

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