Extracellular Nanomatrix‐Induced Self‐Organization of Neural Stem Cells into Miniature Substantia Nigra‐Like Structures with Therapeutic Effects on Parkinsonian Rats

• Published in: Advanced science 2019-12, Vol.6 (24), p.1901822-n/a
• Main Authors: Zhang, Shiqing, Sun, Peng, Lin, Kaili, Chan, Florence Hiu Ling, Gao, Qi, Lau, Wai Fung, Roy, Vellaisamy A. L., Zhang, Hongqi, Lai, King Wai Chiu, Huang, Zhifeng, Yung, Ken Kin Lam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: extracellular nanomatrix; neural stem cells; Parkinson's disease; Scanning electron microscopy; specific neuronal subtype differentiation; Stem cells; substantia nigra‐like structures; Topography
• ISSN: 2198-3844; 2198-3844
• DOI: 10.1002/advs.201901822

Substantia nigra (SN) is a complex and critical region of the brain wherein Parkinson's disease (PD) arises from the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. Miniature SN‐like structures (mini‐SNLSs) constructed from novel combination of nanomaterials and cell technologies exhibit promise as potentially curative cell therapies for PD. In this work, a rapid self‐organization of mini‐SNLS, with an organizational structure and neuronal identities similar to those of the SN in vivo, is achieved by differentiating neural stem cells in vitro on biocompatible silica nanozigzags (NZs) sculptured by glancing angle deposition, without traditional chemical growth factors. The differentiated neurons exhibit electrophysiological activity in vitro. Diverse physical cues and signaling pathways that are determined by the nanomatrices and lead to the self‐organization of the mini‐SNLSs are clarified and elucidated. In vivo, transplantation of the neurons from a mini‐SNLS results in an early and progressive amelioration of PD in rats. The sculptured medical device reported here enables the rapid and specific self‐organization of region‐specific and functional brain‐like structures without an undesirable prognosis. This development provides promising and significant insights into the screening of potentially curative drugs and cell therapies for PD. Functional miniature substantia nigra‐like structures (mini‐SNLSs) with neuronal identities similar to the SN formed rapidly from neural stem cells differentiate in vitro on biocompatible silica structures sculptured into nanozigzags by glancing angle deposition. The mini‐SNLSs delivere early and progressive lesion amelioration in Parkinsonian rats. These data suggest a promising PD treatment strategy without an undesirable prognosis.