A Perspective: Electrospun Fibers for Repairing Spinal Cord Injury

Zhang, Xindan; Gong, Bowen; Zhai, Jiliang; Zhao, Yu; Lu, Yonglai; Zhang, Liqun; Xue, Jiajia

doi:10.1007/s40242-021-1162-y

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…In tissue engineering, the design of scaffolds with biomimetic and bioactive properties is highly desirable to improve the regeneration capacity of tissues. In particular, research on neural tissue regeneration has been focused on the development of biomaterials with particular topography to mimic the ECM [ 97 , 98 ]. Additionally, bioactive factors, such as proteins and growth factors, should be considered to promote the formation of the new tissue [ 99 ].…”

Section: Design Of Composite Fibers For Brainmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micro- and Nanostructured Fibrous Composites via Electro-Fluid Dynamics: Design and Applications for Brain

Renkler,

Scialla,

Russo

et al. 2024

Pharmaceutics

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The brain consists of an interconnected network of neurons tightly packed in the extracellular matrix (ECM) to form complex and heterogeneous composite tissue. According to recent biomimicry approaches that consider biological features as active components of biomaterials, designing a highly reproducible microenvironment for brain cells can represent a key tool for tissue repair and regeneration. Indeed, this is crucial to support cell growth, mitigate inflammation phenomena and provide adequate structural properties needed to support the damaged tissue, corroborating the activity of the vascular network and ultimately the functionality of neurons. In this context, electro-fluid dynamic techniques (EFDTs), i.e., electrospinning, electrospraying and related techniques, offer the opportunity to engineer a wide variety of composite substrates by integrating fibers, particles, and hydrogels at different scales—from several hundred microns down to tens of nanometers—for the generation of countless patterns of physical and biochemical cues suitable for influencing the in vitro response of coexistent brain cell populations mediated by the surrounding microenvironment. In this review, an overview of the different technological approaches—based on EFDTs—for engineering fibrous and/or particle-loaded composite substrates will be proposed. The second section of this review will primarily focus on describing current and future approaches to the use of composites for brain applications, ranging from therapeutic to diagnostic/theranostic use and from repair to regeneration, with the ultimate goal of providing insightful information to guide future research efforts toward the development of more efficient and reliable solutions.

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Section: Design Of Composite Fibers For Brainmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micro- and Nanostructured Fibrous Composites via Electro-Fluid Dynamics: Design and Applications for Brain

Renkler,

Scialla,

Russo

et al. 2024

Pharmaceutics

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“…Improved astrocyte activation outcomes have been demonstrated by employing nanofiber scaffolds alone, incorporating stem cells with nanofibers, and even with conductive nanofibers ( Zhao et al, 2018 ; Shu et al, 2019 ; Yan et al, 2020 ; Dai et al, 2023 ; Xu et al, 2023 ). As a means to further promote neural repair and mitigation of secondary injury, nanofibers can be loaded with APIs that act on astrocytes due to their porous nature ( Zhang et al, 2021 ). Growth factors and small molecule drugs released from nanofibers have shown the ability to reduce astrocyte activation ( Zhang et al, 2018 ; Bighinati et al, 2020 ; Sun et al, 2020 ), decreasing GFAP expression and improving outcomes ( Table 2 ).…”

Section: Nanomaterials For Api Delivery To Cns Gliamentioning

confidence: 99%

Nanomaterial payload delivery to central nervous system glia for neural protection and repair

Saksena,

Hamilton,

Gilbert

et al. 2023

Front. Cell. Neurosci.

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Central nervous system (CNS) glia, including astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes, play prominent roles in traumatic injury and degenerative disorders. Due to their importance, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are being developed to modulate CNS glia in order to improve outcomes in traumatic injury and disease. While many of these APIs show promise in vitro, the majority of APIs that are systemically delivered show little penetration through the blood–brain barrier (BBB) or blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) and into the CNS, rendering them ineffective. Novel nanomaterials are being developed to deliver APIs into the CNS to modulate glial responses and improve outcomes in injury and disease. Nanomaterials are attractive options as therapies for central nervous system protection and repair in degenerative disorders and traumatic injury due to their intrinsic capabilities in API delivery. Nanomaterials can improve API accumulation in the CNS by increasing permeation through the BBB of systemically delivered APIs, extending the timeline of API release, and interacting biophysically with CNS cell populations due to their mechanical properties and nanoscale architectures. In this review, we present the recent advances in the fields of both locally implanted nanomaterials and systemically administered nanoparticles developed for the delivery of APIs to the CNS that modulate glial activity as a strategy to improve outcomes in traumatic injury and disease. We identify current research gaps and discuss potential developments in the field that will continue to translate the use of glia-targeting nanomaterials to the clinic.

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“…110 The neuronal cells at the site of injury become inactivated, leading to the destruction of neural networks and consequent dysfunction. 111 Due to the lack of growth-driven signals and subcellular structural arrangements, neuronal regeneration in the adult CNS capacity is low. Therefore, inducing NSCs to differentiate into neurons rather than glial cells is essential to improve the regeneration efficiency of CNS injury.…”

Section: Central Nerve Regenerationmentioning

confidence: 99%