Neurotrophin-3 released from implant of tissue-engineered fibroin scaffolds inhibits inflammation, enhances nerve fiber regeneration, and improves motor function in canine spinal cord injury

Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2018 · DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.36414 · Published: April 25, 2018

Simple Explanation

This study investigates a new approach to treating spinal cord injuries in dogs using a special scaffold that releases a protein called neurotrophin-3 (NT-3). The scaffold is designed to reduce inflammation and promote nerve regeneration. The scaffold is made of a gelatin sponge coated with NT-3 and fibroin, which allows for a controlled release of NT-3 over time. This helps to create a favorable environment for the dog's own cells to repair the spinal cord. The researchers found that the scaffold improved hindlimb movement and nerve function in the dogs, suggesting it could be a potential treatment for spinal cord injuries.

Study Duration

4 weeks

Participants

14 female Beagle canines (7-month-old)

Evidence Level

Level 3, Animal Study

Key Findings

1
The NT-3/fibroin scaffold (NF-GS) significantly improved hindlimb locomotion in canines with spinal cord injury compared to a control group (F-GS).
2
NF-GS implantation resulted in shorter latency and increased amplitude of cortical motor evoked potentials (CMEP), indicating improved neural conduction.
3
The NF-GS group exhibited reduced inflammation, evidenced by fewer IBA-1 positive cells, and enhanced nerve fiber regeneration compared to the F-GS group.

Research Summary

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) releasing scaffold in treating spinal cord injury (SCI) in canines. The scaffold was designed to inhibit inflammation, promote nerve fiber regeneration, and improve neural conduction. The results demonstrated that the NT-3 releasing scaffold improved hindlimb movement and neural conduction in the canine SCI model. The study also observed migrating host cells, newly formed neurons, functional blood vessels, and associated synaptic structures in the regenerating tissue. The authors conclude that the bioactive scaffold establishes effective microenvironment stimuli for endogenous regeneration, offering a potential strategy for treating spinal cord injury.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Potential for SCI

The study suggests that NT-3 delivery via a bioactive scaffold could be a promising therapeutic approach for spinal cord injury.

Microenvironment Modulation

The findings highlight the importance of modulating the microenvironment at the injury site to promote endogenous regeneration.

Translation to Clinical Application

The use of a canine model provides a more reliable pre-clinical conclusion for the potential translation of this method to human clinical trials.

Study Limitations

1
The concentration of NT-3 used in this study did not show a significant impact on the glial scar of canines.
2
Glial scar may be enhanced from lower to higher animals which would be the greatest challenge from animal experiment to clinical translation for SCI repair.
3
Further study is needed to determine the optimal concentration of NT-3 used for big animal or human.

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