Heterogeneous PHPMA hydrogels for tissue repair and axonal regeneration in the injured spinal cord

A biocompatible heterogeneous hydrogel of poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide] (PHPMA) showing an open porous structure, viscoelastic properties similar to the neural tissue and a large surface area available for cell interaction, was evaluated for its ability to promote tissue repair and axonal regeneration in the transected rat spinal cord. After implantation, the polymer hydrogel could correctly bridge the tissue defect, form a permissive interface with the host tissue to favour cell ingrowth, angiogenesis and axonal growth occurred within the microstructure of the network. Within 3 months the polymer implant was invaded by host derived tissue, glial cells, blood vessels and axons penetrated the hydrogel implant. Such polymer hydrogel matrices which show neuroinductive and neuroconductive properties have the potential to repair tissue defects in the central nervous system by promoting the formation of a tissue matrix and axonal growth by replacing the lost of tissue.     

Spinal cord repair with PHPMA hydrogel containing RGD peptides (NeuroGel)

A biocompatible hydrogel of poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] (PHPMA) which includes the cell-adhesive region of fibronectin Arg-Gly-Asp was synthesized and its structure, rheological and dielectric properties were characterized. The ability of a PHPMA-RGD hydrogel to promote tissue regeneration and support axonal outgrowth in the injured adult and developing rat spinal cord was evaluated. The structure of the PHPMA-RGD hydrogel displayed an interconnected porous structure, with viscoelastic properties similar to those of the neural tissue, and conductivity properties due to a peptide group. The polymer hydrogel provided a structural, three-dimensional continuity across the defect, facilitating the migration and reorganization of local wound-repair cells, as well as tissue development within the lesion. Angiogenesis and axonal growth also occurred within the microstructure of the tissue network, and supraspinal axons migrated into the reconstructed cord segment. In addition, the hydrogel induced a reduction of necrosis and cavitation in the adjacent white and gray matter. These polymer hydrogel matrices therefore display the potential to repair tissue defects in the central nervous system by enhancing the development of a tissue equivalent as well as axonal growth across the reconstructed lesion.     

Enzyme-degradable phosphorylcholine porous hydrogels cross-linked with polyphosphoesters for cell matrices

Biodegradable highly porous hydrogels composed of poly [2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)] cross-linked with polyphosphoesters have been prepared as novel cellular matrices. Well-controlled porous hydrogels were fabricated by using potassium hydrogen carbonate as a porogen salt for forming gas. This process enabled the homogeneous expansion of pores within the polymer hydrogel matrices, leading to well-interconnected high porosity. The mechanical properties of the hydrogels were influenced by the cross-linking density and porous structure. Hydrolysis and enzymatic digestion of the hydrogels were determined under basic conditions. The cross-linking density and porosity influenced the rate of degradation of the hydrogels. Acceleration of the degradation with alkaline phosphatase was also observed. Cultivation of mouse osteoblastic cell (MC3T3-E1) was performed in the highly porous hydrogels and cell viability was well maintained. The rate of cell proliferation also was relatively increased with an increase in the amount of polyphosphoesters in the hydrogel. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was physically absorbed by the hydrogels and effectively induced cell proliferation. In conclusion, the porous hydrogels prepared in this study contributed a suitable environment for three-dimensional cell cultivation and may be useful for cell and tissue matrices.     

植入PHPMA水凝胶对脑损伤后胶质瘢痕形成的抑制性影响

人工合成 PHPMA水凝胶材料。利用此材料修补急性损伤的大鼠脑皮质缺损区 ,评价其对创伤后胶质瘢痕形成的影响以及在神经组织再生中的作用。合成的水凝胶材料经检测分析性状后植入预先造成的大脑皮质空腔内 ,4周以后灌注取脑 ,观察植入材料和周围组织整合结果以及星形胶质细胞在材料周围和内部的浸润状况 ,确定有无胶质瘢痕的形成 ,并进行超微结构分析。结果表明 ,植入材料可和周围组织良好整合 ,二者交界处细胞分布弥散 ,星形胶质细胞无过度聚集现象 ;植入材料内部有轴突样结构生长和血管发生。本研究结果提示 ,利用 PHPMA水凝胶填补脑损伤后的空洞可抑制胶质瘢痕的形成 ,有利于损伤部位神经组织的再生。     

Preparation of porous hydrolyzable polyrotaxane hydrogels and their erosion behavior

We have prepared porous polyrotaxane hydrogels by using the salt leaching technique. Porous hydrogels were found to have a uniform and highly porous structure. The size of pores in each hydrogel was directly proportional to the size of the sodium chloride particle used. Structural uniformity of the hydrogels is useful not only for uniform cell distribution, but also for well-controlled material properties. Uniform pore size and distribution may ensure the diffusion of nutrients throughout of the gel and the removal of metabolic wastes from the system. The results of an erosion study in phosphate-buffered saline showed that the erosion time of porous polyrotaxane hydrogels was controlled by the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) content in the hydrogels. The erosion time of the porous polyrotaxane hydrogel was observed to be almost the same with the non-porous polyrotaxane hydrogel with the same PEG content. From the erosion study, the erosion time of the polyrotaxane hydrogel may be independent of its morphology. Easy control of the erosion time in the polyrotaxane hydrogels is useful in the preparation of scaffolds for tissue engineering.     

Preparation of porous hydrolyzable polyrotaxane hydrogels and their erosion behavior

—We have prepared porous polyrotaxane hydrogels by using the salt leaching technique. Porous hydrogels were found to have a uniform and highly porous structure. The size of pores in each hydrogel was directly proportional to the size of the sodium chloride particle used. Structural uniformity of the hydrogels is useful not only for uniform cell distribution, but also for wellcontrolled material properties. Uniform pore size and distribution may ensure the diffusion of nutrients throughout of the gel and the removal of metabolic wastes from the system. The results of an erosion study in phosphate-buffered saline showed that the erosion time of porous polyrotaxane hydrogels was controlled by the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) content in the hydrogels. The erosion time of the porous polyrotaxane hydrogel was observed to be almost the same with the non-porous polyrotaxane hydrogel with the same PEG content. From the erosion study, the erosion time of the polyrotaxane hydrogel may be independent of its morphology. Easy control of the erosion time in the polyrotaxane hydrogels is useful in the preparation of scaffolds for tissue engineering.     

凝胶材料制备方法及其反应动力学的研究进展

部分水凝胶材料具有良好的生物相容性、低细胞毒性和生物可降解性,广泛应用于组织工程和生物医药等领域,其中采用天然高分子明胶、壳聚糖和海藻酸钠制备复合凝胶材料,负载骨髓间充质干细胞用于修复和治疗骨缺损成为近年来的研究热点之一。因为水凝胶材料抗张强度低和化学稳定性差,所以研究凝胶反应机理和凝胶反应动力学对提高水凝胶的性能具有重要意义。本文总结了明胶、壳聚糖和海藻酸钠凝胶材料的制备方法和凝胶反应机理,比较了不同凝胶反应动力学研究方法,介绍凝胶复合材料在骨修复中的应用,为天然高分子凝胶材料的分子设计和临床应用提供思路。     

Polymer hydrogels usable for nervous tissue repair

The implantation of non-resorbable biocompatible polymer hydrogels into defects in the central nervous system can reduce glial scar formation, bridge the lesion and lead to tissue regeneration within the hydrogel. We implanted hydrogels based on crosslinked poly hydroxyethyl-methacrylate (pHEMA) and poly N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-methacrylamide (pHPMA) into the rat cortex and evaluated the cellular invasion into the hydrogels by means of immunohistochemical methods and tetramethylammonium diffusion measurements. Astrocytes and NF160-positive axons grew similarly into both types of hydrogels. We found no cell types other than astrocytes in the pHEMA hydrogels. In the pHPMA hydrogels, we found a massive ingrowth of connective tissue elements. These changes were accompanied by corresponding changes in the extracellular space volume fraction and tortuosity of the hydrogels.     

Interactions of copolymeric poly(glyceryl methacrylate)-collagen hydrogels with neural tissue: effects of structure and polar groups

In a previous study we developed copolymeric glyceryl methacrylate-collagen hydrogels for implantation in surgical lesions of the rat brain. Such materials provide porous matrices that can serve as support systems for oriented growth of scar tissue and axonal growth. In the present work, we have investigated the effect of structural modifications (studied by mercury porosimetry) of polymeric matrices and the effect of polar groups on the response of the brain tissue. The findings show that the fractional porosity and the pore size distribution of matrices are critical for tissue ingrowth and that negative charges, i.e. carboxylic acid groups, incorporated in the polymer have a strong influence on reactive astrocytosis.     

组织工程支架材料在脊髓损伤中的应用

背景：近年来,随着基础研究的发展,许多新方法、新策略已经开始用于脊髓损伤修复,其中组织工程学的发展开辟了一条新的途径,利用组织工程学的方法治疗脊髓损伤已逐渐成为当前新的研究热点。 目的：探讨组织工程支架材料在脊髓损伤中的应用的研究进展。 方法：检索SCI数据库2002/2011有关组织工程支架材料在脊髓损伤中的应用的文献,检索词为“组织工程(tissue engineering);脊髓损伤(spinal cord injury);支架材料(scaffold material);胶原(collagen);壳聚糖(chitosan);藻酸盐凝胶(alginate hydrogel);纤维蛋白凝胶(fibrin glue);聚羟基丁酸酯(poly-b-hydroxybutyrate);琼脂糖凝胶(agarose);聚乳酸(poly lactic acid);合成水凝胶(synthetic hydrogels);聚乙二醇(polyethylene glycol)”,对组织工程支架材料修复脊髓损伤的临床及基础文献进行深入分析。 结果与结论：组织工程支架是组织工程修复脊髓损伤研究的重点内容。组织工程支架的材料包括天然材料和人工合成材料,天然材料具有良好的细胞和组织相容性,人工合成的聚合物支架在结构形状、机械强度及规模化生产方面均具有很大的优势。近年来,组织工程支架材料在脊髓损伤中的应用有了很大发展,相继出现了新型支架材料。     

IKVAV多肽生物活性水凝胶修复大鼠脑损伤

目的探索利用组织工程技术修复中枢神经损伤的可行性。方法人工合成PHPMA水凝胶材料,在其表面接枝具有神经生长活性的IKVAV肽段,检测分析性状后植入大鼠大脑皮层,于术后不同时期取脑切片,组织化学染色观察植入部位细胞反应;GFAP免疫组化检测星形胶质细胞在材料中的分布;Glees镀银染色显示移植物中神经纤维生长情况,DAB血管染色法观察新生血管的长入。结果制备的三维活性PHPMA水凝胶植入鼠脑皮层后能与周围组织良好整合。术后6周材料周围及内部均有细胞浸润,GFAP阳性细胞在材料内分布均匀;12周后材料内部可见新生血管;18周后材料中心有神经纤维长入。结论活性PHPMA水凝胶具有良好的脑组织相容性,植入脑缺损部位有助于细胞迁移、血管发生及神经轴突生长。     

Matrix inclusion within synthetic hydrogel guidance channels improves specific supraspinal and local axonal regeneration after complete spinal cord transection

We have previously shown that a novel synthetic hydrogel channel composed of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) (pHEMA-MMA) is biocompatible and supports axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury. Our goal was to improve the number and type of regenerated axons within the spinal cord through the addition of different matrices and growth factors incorporated within the lumen of the channel. After complete spinal cord transection at T8, pHEMA-MMA channels, having an elastic modulus of 263+/-13 kPa were implanted into adult Sprague Dawley rats. The channels were then filled with one of the following matrices: collagen, fibrin, Matrigel, methylcellulose, or smaller pHEMA-MMA tubes placed within a larger pHEMA-MMA channel (called tubes within channels, TWC). We also supplemented selected matrices (collagen and fibrin) with neurotrophic factors, fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3). After channel implantation, fibrin glue was applied to the cord-channel interface, and a duraplasty was performed with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane. Controls included animals that had either complete spinal cord transection and implantation of unfilled pHEMA-MMA channels or complete spinal cord transection. Regeneration was assessed by retrograde axonal tracing with Fluoro-Gold, and immunohistochemistry with NF-200 (for total axon counts) and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP, for sensory axon counts) after 8 weeks survival. Fibrin, Matrigel, methylcellulose, collagen with FGF-1, collagen with NT-3, fibrin with FGF-1, and fibrin with NT-3 increased the total axon density within the channel (ANOVA, p<0.05) compared to unfilled channel controls. Only fibrin with FGF-1 decreased the sensory axon density compared to unfilled channel controls (ANOVA, p<0.05). Fibrin promoted the greatest axonal regeneration from reticular neurons, and methylcellulose promoted the greatest regeneration from vestibular and red nucleus neurons. With Matrigel, there was no axonal regeneration from brainstem motor neurons. The addition of FGF-1 increased the axonal regeneration of vestibular neurons, and the addition of NT-3 decreased the total number of axons regenerating from brainstem neurons. The fibrin and TWC showed a consistent improvement in locomotor function at both 7 and 8 weeks. Thus, the present study shows that the presence and type of matrix contained within synthetic hydrogel guidance channels affects the quantity and origin of axons that regenerate after complete spinal cord transection, and can improve functional recovery. Determining the optimum matrices and growth factors for insertion into these guidance channels will improve regeneration of the injured spinal cord.     

In vivo magnetic resonance imaging and relaxometry study of a porous hydrogel implanted in the trapezius muscle of rabbits

In vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and relaxometry were performed to assess noninvasively the tissue reaction and the biological integration of hydrogels made of poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide] (PHPMA) after implantation in the trapezius muscle of rabbits. The benefits of incorporating RGD peptide sequences in the polymer backbone were also investigated. The histological status of each implant was probed by the trend of their transversal relaxation times, T(2), while their biocompatibility was evaluated by analyzing the host tissue response through the evolution of the relaxation times of the adjacent muscle tissue. MR results showed the good acceptability of both hydrogels by the host tissue. The transversal relaxation curves of each implant exhibited two distinct phases as a function of implantation time: (1) a monoexponential phase, dominated by the influx of fluids inside the implants; and (2) a biexponential phase related to the infiltration of cells and the granulation tissue formation within the porous structure of each polymer. These MR findings were correlated with the results of conventional histological analyses. The present study demonstrates the effectiveness of MR methods in noninvasively monitoring the biocompatibility and histological status of implanted porous biomaterials.     

人工合成高分子支架材料治疗脊髓损伤

背景：治疗脊髓损伤的人工合成高分子支架材料是目前的研究热点之一。 目的：综述国内外人工合成高分子支架材料在治疗脊髓损伤方面的研究进展。 方法：应用计算机检索万方医学、中国知网、PubMed、EBSCO数据库中2000年1月至2012年1月关于人工合成高分子支架材料治疗脊髓损伤方面的文章,在标题和摘要中以“脊髓损伤,组织工程,人工合成高分子材料”或 “spinal cord injury,tissue engineering,synthetic polymer material”为检索词进行检索。 结果与结论：治疗脊髓损伤的人工合成高分子材料很多,主要有聚乳酸、聚羟基酸、聚β-羟丁酸、合成水凝胶、聚乙二醇及其他人工合成高分子材料。每种材料都有其优缺点,都无法达到完全的组织相容性和可降解性,这些支架材料不能完全模仿脊髓的三维多孔立体结构,移植后这些支架材料的位置相对于脊髓结构来讲是随机的,并未与脊髓的灰、白质组织学结构吻合,更没有和白质中主要纤维相对应,所以均未应用于临床。人工合成高分子支架材料在治疗脊髓损伤方面需要进一步研究。     

Comparison of polymer scaffolds in rat spinal cord: a step toward quantitative assessment of combinatorial approaches to spinal cord repair

The transected rat thoracic (T(9/10)) spinal cord model is a platform for quantitatively comparing biodegradable polymer scaffolds. Schwann cell-loaded scaffolds constructed from poly (lactic co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly(?-caprolactone fumarate) (PCLF), oligo(polyethylene glycol) fumarate (OPF) hydrogel or positively charged OPF (OPF+) hydrogel were implanted into the model. We demonstrated that the mechanical properties (3-point bending and stiffness) of OPF and OPF?+?hydrogels closely resembled rat spinal cord. After one month, tissues were harvested and analyzed by morphometry of neurofilament-stained sections at rostral, midlevel, and caudal scaffold. All polymers supported axonal growth. Significantly higher numbers of axons were found in PCLF (P?相似文献   

Development of porous PEG hydrogels that enable efficient,uniform cell-seeding and permit early neural process extension

Three-dimensional polymer scaffolds are useful culture systems for neural cell growth and can provide permissive substrates that support neural processes as they extend across lesions in the brain and spinal cord. Degradable poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG) gels have been identified as a particularly promising scaffold material for this purpose; however, process extension within PEG gels is limited to late stages of hydrogel degradation. Here we demonstrate that earlier process extension can be achieved from primary neural cells encapsulated within PEG gels by creating a network of interconnected pores throughout the gel. Our method of incorporating these pores involves co-encapsulating a cell solution and a fibrin network within a PEG gel. The fibrin is subsequently enzymatically degraded under cytocompatible conditions, leaving behind a network of interconnected pores within the PEG gel. The primary neural cell population encapsulated in the gel is of mixed composition, containing differentiated neurons, and multipotent neuronal and glial precursor cells. We demonstrate that the initial presence of fibrin does not influence the cell-fate decisions of the encapsulated precursor cells. We also demonstrate that this fabrication approach enables simple, efficient and uniform seeding of viable cells throughout the entire porous scaffold.     

A novel pH- and ionic-strength-sensitive carboxy methyl dextran hydrogel

A fast and simple method for the preparation of pH-sensitive hydrogel membranes for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications has been developed using carbodiimide chemistry. The hydrogels were formed by the intermolecular cross-linking of carboxymethyl dextran (CM-dextran) using 1-ethyl-(3-3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). Infrared spectra of the hydrogels suggest the formation of ester bonds between the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups in the CM-dextran. The porosity of the hydrogels produced, as shown by protein diffusion, increases in response to changes in the pH and the ionic strength of the external medium. The results show pH-dependent swelling behaviour arising from the acidic pedant groups in the polymer network. The diffusion of the protein lysozyme through the hydrogel membranes increased with increases in both pH (5.0-9.0) and ionic strength. The effect of changes of pH and ionic strength on the hydrogel's permeability was shown to be reversible. Scanning electron microscopy of these hydrogels showed that pH-dependent changes in permeability are mirrored by morphological changes in gel structure.     

Hydrogels as extracellular matrices for skeletal tissue engineering: state-of-the-art and novel application in organ printing

Organ printing, a novel approach in tissue engineering, applies layered computer-driven deposition of cells and gels to create complex 3-dimensional cell-laden structures. It shows great promise in regenerative medicine, because it may help to solve the problem of limited donor grafts for tissue and organ repair. The technique enables anatomical cell arrangement using incorporation of cells and growth factors at predefined locations in the printed hydrogel scaffolds. This way, 3-dimensional biological structures, such as blood vessels, are already constructed. Organ printing is developing fast, and there are exciting new possibilities in this area. Hydrogels are highly hydrated polymer networks used as scaffolding materials in organ printing. These hydrogel matrices are natural or synthetic polymers that provide a supportive environment for cells to attach to and proliferate and differentiate in. Successful cell embedding requires hydrogels that are complemented with biomimetic and extracellular matrix components, to provide biological cues to elicit specific cellular responses and direct new tissue formation. This review surveys the use of hydrogels in organ printing and provides an evaluation of the recent advances in the development of hydrogels that are promising for use in skeletal regenerative medicine. Special emphasis is put on survival, proliferation and differentiation of skeletal connective tissue cells inside various hydrogel matrices.     

Stimulation of neurite outgrowth by neurotrophins delivered from degradable hydrogels

Degradable hydrogels are useful vehicles for the delivery of growth factors to promote the regeneration of diseased or damaged tissue. In the central nervous system, there are many instances where the delivery of neurotrophins has great potential in tissue repair, especially for treatment of spinal cord injury. In this work, hydrogels based on poly(ethylene glycol) that form via a photoinitiated polymerization were investigated for the delivery of neurotrophins. The release kinetics of these factors are controlled by changes in the network crosslinking density, which influences neurotrophin diffusion and subsequent release from the gels with total release times ranging from weeks to several months. The release and activity of one neurotrophic factor, ciliary-neurotrophic factor (CNTF), was assessed with a cell-based proliferation assay and an assay for neurite outgrowth from retinal explants. CNTF released from a degradable hydrogel above an explanted retina was able to stimulate outgrowth of a significantly higher number of neurites than controls without CNTF. Finally, unique microsphere/hydrogel composites were developed to simultaneously deliver multiple neurotrophins with individual release rates.     

智能水凝胶在骨类硬组织再生和修复中的应用

BACKGROUND: Intelligent hydrogel as a new material is widely used in biological medicine, tissue engineering, memory element switch, biological enzyme immobilization and other related fields, and exhibits good biological characteristics. Intelligent hydrogels provide a new approach for regeneration and repair of bone and other hard tissues.  OBJECTIVE: To summarize the latest developments of intelligent hydrogel in the biological medicine and tissue engineering in order to find out new methods for regeneration and repair of bone and other hard tissues. METHODS: A computer-based research of CNKI, PubMed and EBSCO-MEDLINE databases was performed to retrieve relevant literatures about the application of intelligent hydrogel in regeneration and repair of bone and other hard tissues published from 2000 to 2015. The keywords were “hydrogel, bone tissue engineering, bone defect, regeneration, repair” in Chinese and English, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Intelligent hydrogels are classified into pH-sensitive, temperature-sensitive, light-sensitive, multiple-sensitive and other sensitive hydrogels. In order to improve the mineralization ability of the hydrogel and construct the three-dimensional polymer scaffold of hydrogel, the main structure of the hydrogel materials can be mixed with various signal factors, thus achieving the multi-utility and multi-function of the material system, which will become the development trend of tissue engineering construction.