Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2026, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (8): 3696-3705.doi: 10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-25-00371

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Basic fibroblast growth factor sustained-release system promotes neurogenesis and tissue repair after spinal cord injury

Xuyang Fu1, #, Hongmei Duan1, #, Boya Zhang1, #, Huan Wang1, Yulin Bi1, Miaoxin Yu1, Peng Hao1, Jian Sun2, 3, Dapeng Li1, Yudan Gao1, Wen Zhao1, Xiaoxuan Liu4, 5, *, Zhaoyang Yang1, *, Xiaoguang Li1, 6, *   

  1. 1Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; 
    2Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; 
    3Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; 
    4Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; 
    5Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China; 
    6Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
  • Online:2026-08-18 Published:2026-04-27
  • Contact: Xiaoxuan Liu, PhD, Lucyan_liu@bjmu.edu.cn; Zhaoyang Yang, PhD, wack_lily@163.com; Xiaoguang Li, PhD, lxgchina@sina.com.
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Nos. 82271403 (to XL), 82272171 (to ZY), 31730030 (to XL), 81941011 (to XL), 31971279 (to ZY); and the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing, No. 7222004 (to HD).

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Abstract: Spinal cord injury is accompanied by a substantial loss of neurons. Cell replacement therapy improves motor and sensory dysfunction by replacing dead neurons, and endogenous neurogenesis is an important cell replacement source. Stimulating endogenous neurogenesis is therefore a viable approach for treating spinal cord injury. Given that basic fibroblast growth factor is a potent inducer of neurogenesis, we developed a sustained-release system of basic fibroblast growth factor-chitosan to enhance tissue repair in spinal cord injury. In the present study, we isolated neural stem cells from the spinal cords of neonatal rats and used single-cell RNA sequencing to trace the complete process of neurogenesis under ex vivo culture conditions. Under the influence of basic fibroblast growth factor-chitosan, neural stem cells were able to transition from a quiescent state to an activated state and subsequently differentiate into neuronal precursor cells and immature neurons. Additionally, basic fibroblast growth factor-chitosan significantly enhanced neural stem cell proliferation in vitro and promoted neuronal generation. Subsequent in vivo experiments confirmed the therapeutic efficacy of basic fibroblast growth factor-chitosan in spinal cord injury, demonstrating enhanced neurogenesis and tissue repair. 

Key words: basic fibroblast growth factor, chitosan, electrophysiology, endogenous regeneration, microenvironment modulation, neural stem cell, neurogenesis, single-cell RNA sequencing, spinal cord injury, sustained-release system, tissue repair