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Three-dimensional Collagen Scaffolds in Cultures of Olfactory Ensheathing Cells Used for Severed Spinal Cord Regeneration

in vivo, 2022 · DOI: 10.21873/invivo.12929 · Published: July 12, 2022

Spinal Cord InjuryRegenerative MedicineNeurology

Simple Explanation

This study explores methods for culturing olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) using materials suitable for creating advanced cell therapies for humans. The focus is on spinal cord regeneration. The research compares different collagen types for creating scaffolds to support OECs during surgical procedures. It also examines optimal conditions, like surface modifications and serum concentrations, for growing these cells. The findings suggest that OECs can be successfully cultured using human-grade reagents, leading to a functional advanced therapy medicinal product for potential use in spinal cord injury treatment.

Study Duration
Not specified
Participants
Wistar rats weighing 250-270 g
Evidence Level
In vitro study

Key Findings

  • 1
    Acid-solubilized collagen (ASC) is superior to pepsin-solubilized collagen (PSC) for creating 3D collagen scaffolds, as ASC provides easier handling during surgical procedures.
  • 2
    OEC cultures thrive better on surfaces modified with fibronectin compared to poly-D-lysine, leading to a greater number of cells.
  • 3
    An optimal fetal bovine serum (FBS) concentration of approximately 10% is recommended for culturing OECs to achieve sufficient cell content.

Research Summary

This study investigates methods for culturing olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) using materials and reagents certified for pharmaceutical use, aiming to produce advanced cell therapies for humans with spinal cord injuries. The research compares different types of collagen scaffolds (acid-solubilized collagen (ASC) and pepsin-solubilized collagen (PSC)) for supporting OECs and assesses the impact of surface modifications (fibronectin and poly-D-lysine) and fetal bovine serum (FBS) concentrations on OEC cultures. The study concludes that OECs can be successfully cultured using reagents intended for human use, with ASC being more suitable for creating collagen scaffolds, fibronectin enhancing cell growth, and 10% FBS being an optimal concentration for culturing these cells.

Practical Implications

Improved Cell Therapy Production

The study provides insights into optimizing OEC culture methods using certified materials, facilitating the production of advanced cell therapy products for spinal cord injury treatment.

Enhanced Surgical Handling

The finding that acid-solubilized collagen is superior for scaffold preparation can improve the handling and transplantation of OECs during surgical procedures.

Optimized Culture Conditions

The identification of fibronectin as a preferred surface modification and the determination of the optimal FBS concentration can enhance OEC yield and quality for therapeutic applications.

Study Limitations

  • 1
    The study is performed in vitro, and further in vivo studies are needed to validate the findings.
  • 2
    The optimal ratio of OECs to fibroblasts for effective spinal cord regeneration in humans is not definitively determined.
  • 3
    The long-term effects of using serum in cell culture need further investigation to minimize potential risks.

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