Electroactive biodegradable polyurethane significantly enhanced Schwann cells myelin gene expression and neurotrophin secretion for peripheral nerve tissue engineering

• Published in: Biomaterials 2016-05, Vol.87, p.18-31
• Main Authors: Wu, Yaobin, Wang, Ling, Guo, Baolin, Shao, Yongpin, Ma, Peter X
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advanced Basic Science; Animals; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biocompatible Materials - metabolism; Biocompatible Materials - pharmacology; Biomaterials; Biomaterials-approach; Biomedical materials; Cell Line; Conductive polyurethane; Dentistry; Electric Conductivity; Gene expression; Myelin; Myelin gene expressions; Myelin Sheath - drug effects; Myelin Sheath - metabolism; Nerve Growth Factors - genetics; Nerve Growth Factors - metabolism; Nerve Regeneration - drug effects; Neurotrophins secretion; PC12 Cells; Peripheral nerve tissue engineering; Peripheral nerves; Peripheral Nerves - drug effects; Peripheral Nerves - physiology; Polyurethane resins; Polyurethanes - chemistry; Polyurethanes - metabolism; Polyurethanes - pharmacology; Rats; Schwann cells; Schwann Cells - cytology; Schwann Cells - drug effects; Schwann Cells - metabolism; Secretions; Surgical implants; Tissue Engineering; Up-Regulation - drug effects
• ISSN: 0142-9612; 1878-5905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2016.02.010

Abstract Myelination of Schwann cells (SCs) is critical for the success of peripheral nerve regeneration, and biomaterials that can promote SCs' neurotrophin secretion as scaffolds are beneficial for nerve repair. Here we present a biomaterials-approach, specifically, a highly tunable conductive biodegradable flexible polyurethane by polycondensation of poly(glycerol sebacate) and aniline pentamer, to significantly enhance SCs' myelin gene expression and neurotrophin secretion for peripheral nerve tissue engineering. SCs are cultured on these conductive polymer films, and the biocompatibility of these films and their ability to enhance myelin gene expressions and sustained neurotrophin secretion are successfully demonstrated. The mechanism of SCs' neurotrophin secretion on conductive films is demonstrated by investigating the relationship between intracellular Ca2+ level and SCs' myelination. Furthermore, the neurite growth and elongation of PC12 cells are induced by adding the neurotrophin medium suspension produced from SCs-laden conductive films. These data suggest that these conductive degradable polyurethanes that enhance SCs' myelin gene expressions and sustained neurotrophin secretion perform great potential for nerve regeneration applications.