Architecture‐Engineered Electrospinning Cascade Regulates Spinal Microenvironment to Promote Nerve Regeneration

• Published in: Advanced healthcare materials 2023-05, Vol.12 (12), p.e2202658-n/a
• Main Authors: Tang, Yu, Xu, Zonghan, Tang, Jincheng, Xu, Yichang, Li, Ziang, Wang, Wenbo, Wu, Liang, Xi, Kun, Gu, Yong, Chen, Liang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Apoptosis; Biomaterials; Biomedical materials; Blood vessels; Brain injury; Central nervous system; electrospinning; Fiber composites; Germination; Hydrogels; Hydrogels - pharmacology; Hydrogels - therapeutic use; Hydrophilicity; Immune response; Immune system; Inflammation; Inflammatory response; Injury prevention; macrophage polarization; Macrophages; nerve regeneration; Nerve Regeneration - physiology; Nerves; Neural stem cells; Neural Stem Cells - transplantation; Neurotrophic factors; Rats; Receptor mechanisms; Recovery; Regeneration; Spinal Cord; Spinal cord injuries; Spinal Cord Injuries - therapy; spinal cord injury immune microenvironments; Stem cells
• ISSN: 2192-2640; 2192-2659; 2192-2659
• DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202658

The inflammatory cascade after spinal cord injury (SCI) causes necrotizing apoptosis of local stem cells, which limits nerve regeneration. Therefore, coordinating the inflammatory immune response and neural stem cell (NSC) functions is key to promoting the recovery of central nervous system function. In this study, a hydrogel “perfusion” system and electrospinning technology are integrated, and a “concrete” composite support for the repair of nerve injuries is built. The hydrogel's hydrophilic properties activate macrophage integrin receptors to mediate polarization into anti‐inflammatory subtypes and cause a 10% increase in polarized M2 macrophages, thus reprogramming the SCI immune microenvironment. Programmed stromal cell‐derived factor‐1α and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor released from the composite increase recruitment and neuronal differentiation of NSCs by approximately four‐ and twofold, respectively. The fiber system regulates the SCI immune inflammatory microenvironment, recruits endogenous NSCs, promotes local blood vessel germination and maturation, and improves nerve function recovery in a rat SCI model. In conclusion, the engineering fiber composite improves the local inflammatory response. It promotes nerve regeneration through a hydrophilic programmed cytokine‐delivery system, which further improves and supplements the immune response mechanism regulated by the inherent properties of the biomaterial. The new fiber composite may serve as a new treatment approach for SCI. A hydrogel “perfusion” system and electrospinning technology constitute a “concrete” composite support for the repair of nerve injuries. This engineering fiber composite improves the local inflammatory response and promotes nerve regeneration through a hydrophilic programmed cytokine‐delivery system, which further improves and supplements the immune response mechanism regulated by the inherent properties of the biomaterial.