Journal of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
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J Tissue Eng Regen Med · Feb 2016
Synergistic effects of low-level laser and mesenchymal stem cells on functional recovery in rats with crushed sciatic nerves.
Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been proposed to exert beneficial effects on peripheral nerve regeneration after a peripheral nerve injury, but the functional recovery in the denervated limb is still limited. In this study, we used low-level laser therapy (LLLT) as an adjunct therapy for MSC transplantation on the functional recovery of crushed sciatic nerve in rats. Peripheral nerve injury was induced in 48 Sprague-Dawley rats by crushing the unilateral sciatic nerve, using a vessel clamp. ⋯ Moreover, markedly enhanced electrophysiological function and expression of S100 immunoreactivity, as well as fewer inflammatory cells and less vacuole formation were also demonstrated after nerve crush injury in the MSCLLLT group when compared with the groups receiving a single treatment (p < 0.05). MSC transplantation combined with LLLT could achieve better results in functional recovery than a conventional treatment of MSC or LLLT alone. LLLT has a synergistic effect in providing greater functional recovery with MSC transplantation after nerve crush injury.
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J Tissue Eng Regen Med · Dec 2015
Recombinant human collagen III gel for transplantation of autologous skin cells in porcine full-thickness wounds.
Complex skin wounds, such as chronic ulcers and deep burns, require lengthy treatments and cause extensive burdens on healthcare and the economy. Use of biomaterials and cell transplantation may improve traditional treatments and promote the healing of difficult-to-treat wounds. In this study, we investigated the use of recombinant human collagen III (rhCol-III) gel as a delivery vehicle for cultured autologous skin cells (keratinocytes only or keratinocyte-fibroblast mixtures). ⋯ Interestingly, we found cell type-dependent differences in the stability of rhCol-III in vivo. Fibroblast-containing gel was effectively removed from the wound, whereas gels without cells or with keratinocytes only remained intact. Our results demonstrate that the properties of rhCol-III gel for skin cell transplantation can be significantly altered in a cell type-dependent manner.
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J Tissue Eng Regen Med · Mar 2015
Targeted delivery of adipose-derived stem cells via acellular dermal matrix enhances wound repair in diabetic rats.
Cell-based therapeutic intervention has emerged as a new approach to accelerate wound closure. Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), as a fascinating cell source, have received much attention in tissue repair and regeneration. In this study we evaluated the potential of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) scaffold serving as a carrier for the delivery of ASCs and investigated its therapeutic effects on wound healing. ⋯ Immunofluorescence analysis further indicated that capillary density was evidently increased in the ASCs-ADM group compared with the control or ADM group. In addition, western blot analysis showed that ASCs-ADM significantly increased the expression of angiogenic factors, which was consistent with in vitro data. Taken together, our results suggest that targeted delivery of ASCs via ADM scaffold accelerate diabetic wound healing through a paracrine mechanism, with enhanced granulation tissue formation and increased re-epithelialization and neovascularization.
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J Tissue Eng Regen Med · Feb 2015
ReviewReview of vascularised bone tissue-engineering strategies with a focus on co-culture systems.
Poor angiogenesis within tissue-engineered grafts has been identified as a main challenge limiting the clinical introduction of bone tissue-engineering (BTE) approaches for the repair of large bone defects. Thick BTE grafts often exhibit poor cellular viability particularly at the core, leading to graft failure and lack of integration with host tissues. Various BTE approaches have been explored for improving vascularisation in tissue-engineered constructs and are briefly discussed in this review. ⋯ It will also address key questions regarding the generation of clinically relevant vascularized bone constructs as well as potential directions and considerations for research with the objective of pursuing engineered co-culture systems in other disciplines of vascularized regenerative medicine. The final objective is to generate serious and functional long-lasting vessels for sustainable angiogenesis that will enable enhanced cellular survival within thick voluminous bone grafts, thereby aiding in bone formation and remodelling in the long term. However, more evidence about the quality of blood vessels formed and its associated functional improvement in bone formation as well as a mechanistic understanding of their interactions are necessary for designing better therapeutic strategies for translation to clinical settings.
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J Tissue Eng Regen Med · Feb 2015
Treatment of penetrating brain injury in a rat model using collagen scaffolds incorporating soluble Nogo receptor.
Injuries and diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) have the potential to cause permanent loss of brain parenchyma, with severe neurological consequences. Cavitary defects in the brain may afford the possibility of treatment with biomaterials that fill the lesion site while delivering therapeutic agents. This study examined the treatment of penetrating brain injury (PBI) in a rat model with collagen biomaterials and a soluble Nogo receptor (sNgR) molecule. sNgR was aimed at neutralizing myelin proteins that hinder axon regeneration by inducing growth cone collapse. ⋯ Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated the composition of the cellular infiltrate to include macrophages, astrocytes and vascular endothelial cells. Isolated regions of the scaffold borders showed integration with surrounding viable brain tissue that included neurons and oligodendrocytes. While axon regeneration was not detected in the scaffolds, the cellular infiltration and vascularization of the lesion site demonstrated a modification of the injury environment with implications for regenerative strategies.