P(TMC-CL)/PPY based scaffolds for spinal cord lesion treatment
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1
Instituto de Engenharia Biomedica, Portugal
Currently, no efficient therapeutic strategy exists to promote spinal cord regeneration. The main aim of this work is the development of a conductive composite that can be used as a bridging device to repair central nervous system (CNS) lesions.
3D scaffolds (3D-Ss) with dimensions suitable for in vitro and in vivo evaluation of neural cell growth were prepared by blending an elastomer - a copolymer of trimethylene carbonate (TMC) and ξ-caprolactone (CL) (10:90 mol%) with poly(pyrrole) (PPy) (15%). The combination of these two materials will allow the preparation of a flexible cylindrical scaffold with longitudinally aligned channels that will serve as a guide for axonal extension, while preventing fibrous tissue in-growth, as well as permit the application of an electric field in situ to promote lesion repair. Conductive cylindrical scaffolds were obtained with an average pore size of 40 ?m. The mechanical properties (storage modulus) of the scaffolds were shown to be of the same order of magnitude of the ones of a spinal cord (rat animal model). P(TMC-CL)/PPy 3D-Ss were proved to be non-cytotoxic. PC12 cell activity and proliferation when cultured in the presence of extracts from P(TMC-CL)/PPy- based 3D-S (up to 14 days of extraction) was not impaired, as compared to untreated cells. PC12 cells were able to adhere and proliferate in the prepared porous scaffolds. Cortical neurons were found to adhere to and extend processes on hybrid polymeric membranes when these were coated with poly-L-lysine (PLL), in a PLL concentration dependent manner.
In conclusion, new conductive composite 3D porous scaffolds were developed. The evaluation of neural cell adhesion and growth on these materials under electrical stimulation may contribute to the design of new electroactive devices for CNS repair.
This project was funded by the EC under the 6th Framework Programme (Contract No 28473).
Conference:
11th Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience, Braga, Portugal, 4 Jun - 6 Jun, 2009.
Presentation Type:
Oral Presentation
Topic:
Symposium 4 – Neuroregeneration Strategies
Citation:
Rocha
DN,
San Juan
A,
Fonseca
C and
Pego
AP
(2009). P(TMC-CL)/PPY based scaffolds for spinal cord lesion treatment.
Front. Neurosci.
Conference Abstract:
11th Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience.
doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.01.2009.11.018
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Received:
05 Aug 2009;
Published Online:
05 Aug 2009.
*
Correspondence:
D. N Rocha, Instituto de Engenharia Biomedica, Porto, Portugal, apego@ineb.up.pt