M2 microglia-derived exosome-loaded electroconductive hydrogel for enhancing neurological recovery after spinal cord injury

Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2024 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-023-02255-w · Published: December 6, 2023

Spinal Cord Injury Pharmacology Biomedical

Simple Explanation

Electroconductive hydrogels can help repair spinal cord injuries by restoring electrical signals. However, they don't always reduce inflammation after injury. This study uses exosomes from M2 microglia, which reduce inflammation, and combines them with electroconductive hydrogels to improve spinal cord repair. The hydrogels with exosomes stimulated nerve cell growth and reduced inflammation in lab experiments. When used in rats with spinal cord injuries, the combination sped up nerve regeneration and improved their ability to move. These findings show that M2 microglia-derived exosomes can enhance the effectiveness of electroconductive hydrogels for spinal cord injury rehabilitation by promoting tissue regeneration and reducing inflammation.

Study Duration

8 Weeks

Participants

Adult female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats weighing 200–250 g

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
M2-Exos-laden electroconductive hydrogels stimulate the growth of neural stem cells and axons in the dorsal root ganglion and modulate microglial M2 polarization.
2
M2-Exos mitigate the initial inflammatory reaction within the injury site and expedite neuronal and axonal regeneration.
3
The combination of M2-Exos with electroconductive hydrogel enhances the functional recovery of rats afflicted with SCI.

Research Summary

This study developed electroconductive hydrogels composed of tannic acid (TA) and polypyrrole (PPy), incorporating exosomes with immunomodulatory properties to enhance spinal cord injury (SCI) repair. In vitro experiments demonstrated the significant capacity of M2-Exos-laden electroconductive hydrogels to stimulate neural stem cell growth, axon regeneration, and microglial M2 polarization, while also mitigating the initial inflammatory reaction at the injury site. In vivo results showed that the combination of M2-Exos with electroconductive hydrogel synergistically promoted axon growth, leading to enhanced functional recovery in rats with SCI, suggesting a promising therapeutic strategy.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Strategy

M2-Exos combined with electroconductive hydrogels holds significant promise as a therapeutic strategy to enhance functional recovery following spinal cord injury.

Reduces Inflammation

M2-Exos introduction led to a significant reduction in the post-injury inflammatory response, fostering neuronal survival and mitigating the formation of glial scars.

Promotes Axon Growth

The collaborative effect of M2-Exos within the electroconductive hydrogel synergistically promoted axon growth, primarily through the initiation of the PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Study Limitations

1
The electrophysiological data from neurons on acute spinal cord sections through membrane attachment or whole-cell recording using patch clamp techniques is absent.
2
Not specified
3
Not specified

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