Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2021, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (11): 2284-2292.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.310698

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A multi-channel collagen scaffold loaded with neural stem cells for the repair of spinal cord injury

Shuo Liu, Yuan-Yuan Xie, Liu-Di Wang, Chen-Xu Tai, Dong Chen, Dan Mu, Yan-Yan Cui3, Bin Wang1, *#br#   

  1. 1Clinical Stem Cell Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China; 2Department of Radiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China; 3Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
  • Online:2021-11-15 Published:2021-04-13
  • Contact: Bin Wang, PhD, wangbin022800@126.com.
  • Supported by:
    The study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China, No. 2017YFA0104304 (to NG); the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Nos. 81571213 (to BW), 81800583 (to YYX), 81601539 (to DM); the Nanjing Medical Science and Technique Development Foundation of China, Nos. QRX17006 (to BW), QRX17057 (to DM); the Key Project Supported by Medical Science and Technology Development Foundation, Nanjing Department of Health and the Nanjing Medical Science and Innovation Platform of China, No. ZDX16005 (to BW); and Chongqing Yuzhong District Science and Technology Commission Project of China, No. 20140112 (to YYC).

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Abstract: Collagen scaffolds possess a three-dimensional porous structure that provides sufficient space for cell growth and proliferation, the passage of nutrients and oxygen, and the discharge of metabolites. In this study, a porous collagen scaffold with axially-aligned luminal conduits was prepared. In vitro biocompatibility analysis of the collagen scaffold revealed that it enhances the activity of neural stem cells and promotes cell extension, without affecting cell differentiation. The collagen scaffold loaded with neural stem cells improved the hindlimb motor function in the rat model of T8 complete transection and promoted nerve regeneration. The collagen scaffold was completely degraded in vivo within 5 weeks of implantation, exhibiting good biodegradability. Rectal temperature, C-reactive protein expression and CD68 staining demonstrated that rats with spinal cord injury that underwent implantation of the collagen scaffold had no notable inflammatory reaction. These findings suggest that this novel collagen scaffold is a good carrier for neural stem cell transplantation, thereby enhancing spinal cord repair following injury. This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital (the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School), China (approval No. 2019AE02005) on June 15, 2019.

Key words: axially-aligned luminal conduits, biomaterial, cell transplantation, collagen, complete transection, inflammation, neural stem cell, regeneration scaffold, spinal cord injury, tissue engineering

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