Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, 226001, Nantong, PR China; The Neural Regeneration Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Province, 226001 Nantong, PR China.
Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 226001, Nantong, PR China.
Carbohydr Polym. 2017 Sep 1;171:39-49. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.05.006. Epub 2017 May 2.
Artificial chitosan scaffolds have been widely investigated for peripheral nerve regeneration. However, the effect was not as good as that of autologous grafts and therefore could not meet the clinical requirement. In the present study, the nerve growth factor (NGF) loaded heparin/chitosan scaffolds were fabricated via electrostatic interaction for further improving nerve regeneration. The physicochemical properties including morphology, wettability and composition were measured. The heparin immobilization, NGF loading and release were quantitatively and qualitatively characterized, respectively. The effect of NGF loaded heparin/chitosan scaffolds on nerve regeneration was evaluated by Schwann cells culture for different periods. The results showed that the heparin immobilization and NGF loading did not cause the change of bulk properties of chitosan scaffolds except for morphology and wettability. The pre-immobilization of heparin in chitosan scaffolds could enhance the stability of subsequently loaded NGF. The NGF loaded heparin/chitosan scaffolds could obviously improve the attachment and proliferation of Schwann cells in vitro. More importantly, the NGF loaded heparin/chitosan scaffolds could effectively promote the morphology development of Schwann cells. The study may provide a useful experimental basis to design and develop artificial implants for peripheral nerve regeneration and other tissue regeneration.
人工壳聚糖支架已广泛应用于周围神经再生研究。然而，其效果不如自体移植物，因此无法满足临床需求。本研究通过静电相互作用制备了负载神经生长因子（NGF）的肝素/壳聚糖支架，以进一步促进神经再生。测量了支架的物理化学性能，包括形态、润湿性和组成。分别对肝素固定、NGF 负载和释放进行了定量和定性分析。通过不同时间的雪旺细胞培养评估了负载 NGF 的肝素/壳聚糖支架对神经再生的影响。结果表明，肝素固定和 NGF 负载不会改变壳聚糖支架的整体性质，除了形态和润湿性。壳聚糖支架中肝素的预固定可以增强随后负载的 NGF 的稳定性。负载 NGF 的肝素/壳聚糖支架可以明显促进雪旺细胞的体外黏附和增殖。更重要的是，负载 NGF 的肝素/壳聚糖支架可以有效地促进雪旺细胞的形态发育。该研究可能为设计和开发用于周围神经再生和其他组织再生的人工植入物提供有用的实验基础。
