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Objective To construct genipin-crosslinked rat acellular spinal cord scaffolds and evaluate their enzymatic degradation rate,biomechanical properties and cytotoxicity.Methods Rat spinal cord scaffolds were decellularized by chemical extraction and chemically crosslinked with 5 g/L genipin solution.Micro-structure of the uncrosslinked and genipin-crosslinked acellular spinal cord scaffolds were observed by HE staining and scanning electron microscopy and properties of pore size,porosity,water ratio,and degradation rate in 2.5 g/L trypsin enzyme solution were examined.Ultimate tensile strength and elastic modulus of normal rat thoracic spinal cord,uncrosslinked and genipin-crosslinked acellular spinal cord scaffolds were determined on Instron mechanical testing instrument.Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were cultured in lixivium of uncrosslinked and genipin-crosslinked acellular spinal cord scaffolds and MTT assay for relative cell growth rate was test to evaluate the cytotoxicity of scaffolds.Results The uncrosslinked and the genipin-crosslinked acellular spinal cord scaffolds possessed a similar three-dimensional mesh-porous structure with a mean pore diameter about 30 μm and a porosity over 80％,but there was a statistical difference between the two groups(P ＞ 0.05).Water ratio of genipincrosslinked scaffolds was (229.7 ± 12.5) ％,far lower than (283.4 ± 11.2) ％ of uncrosslinked scaffolds (P ＜ O.05) ; genipin-crosslinked acellular spinal cord scaffolds had lower weight loss at each time point than the uncrosslinked acellular spinal cord scaffolds (P ＜ 0.05),but the stability in trypsin,ultimate tensile strength and elastic modulus of acellular spinal cord scaffolds were significantly enhanced by genipin-crosslinking (P ＜ 0.05).Furthermore,no obvious cytotoxicity was observed in the uncroslinked and genipin-crosslinked scaffolds.Conclusions Rat acellular spinal cord scaffolds present no obvious change in structure after genipin-crosslinking,but there is significant improvement in the biomechanical properties and ability against enzymatic degradation and no marked cytotoxicity.Hence,the genipincrosslinked scaffolds are promising in tissue engineering for spinal injury.
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Objective To observe three-dimensional structure and biological features of rat acellular spinal cord scaffold prepared by sonic oscillation and chemical extraction in order to offer an ideal scaffold for spinal cord tissue engineering research.Methods Rat spinal cord underwent acellular treatment with sonic oscillation and chemical extraction (Triton X-100 at volume fracture of 2％ and sodium deoxycholate at volume fracture of 2％) (acellular spinal cord group).In contrast with spinal cord tissue of normal rats (control group),general morphology,histology and ultramicro three-dimensional structure of acellular spinal cord scaffold were observed and aperture size,factor of porosity,water ratio,enzymolysis ratio and stability in water solution of the scaffold were also detected.Results Acellular spinal cord group showed effective removal of original cell components with factor of porosity for (94.57 ±3.45) ％ and water content for (88.62 ± 1.0) ％,and satisfactory three-dimensional structure with average aperture of 46 μm.Scaffold showed gradual degradation in enzymolysis solution and enzymolysis rate reached (69.03 ± 2.19)％ at 20 hours.Besides,scaffold showed stepwise disintegration in double distilled water and hydrolysis rate was (62.55 ± 1.70) ％ at 8 days.While,normal spinal cord showed close structure,generous neurons and myelin sheath with factor of porosity for (0.04 ± 0.02) ％ and water content for (62.4 ± 1.5) ％,and unobvious pore structure under scanning electron microscope.Normal spinal cord were degraded gradually in enzymolysis solution and enzymolysis rate was (37.62 ± 0.9)％ at 20hours.In the meantime,normal spinal cord were disintegrated gradually in double distilled water and hydrolysis rate was (40.97 ± 0.81) ％ at 8 days.Conclusions Acellular spinal cord scaffold prepared by sonic oscillation plus chemical extraction achieves complete removal of cell components,intact extracellular matrix,and satisfactory results in three-dimensional network structures,factor of porosity and water content.Also,the scaffold meets theoretical demands of tissue-engineered spinal cord scaffold and is an ideal alterative for tissue-engineered spinal cord scaffold.
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Objective To evaluate the in vitro biological safety of acellular spinal cord scaffold so as to provide theoretical basis for constructing the ideal tissue engineering scaffold of spinal cord.Methods A piece of thoracic spinal cord for 2 cm removed from SD rats was harvested and then was treated by freezing and thawing and chemical extraction with 3% sodium deoxyeholate and 1 KU/ml DNaseI and RNaseA. Gross observation and histological examination of the acellular spinal cord scaffold were carried out to learn the condition of the extracellular matrix scaffold. The biological safety of the acellular spinal cord scaffold was evaluated. Results In cross section, network of the extracellular matrix was presented in the scaffold. The cells, myelin and axons disappeared after the spinal cord was treated with sodium deoxycholate, DNaseI and RNaseA. Typical network of empty tubes were viewed in longitudinal sections. General toxic reaction, pyrogen test, hemolysis test and cytotoxicity test were conforming to the standard of materials. Conclusion As neotype tissue engineering material, the acellular spinal cord scaffold has satisfactory biological safety.
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[Objective]Using a procedure of chemical agent to remove the cells and myethin in spinal cord of rat and to prepare the scaffold of extracellular matrix,so as to obtain an ideal natural spinal cord scaffold to bridge the nerve gap.[Method]Rat spinal cord was cut and treated using the method of freeze thawing and chemical extraction(3%sodiumdeoxycholate and 1KU/ml DNaseI,RNaseA).Histology was exploited to evaluate the degree of acellular and the structure of the spinal cord scaffold.[Result]In cross section,network of the extracellular matrix was presented in the scaffold.The cells,myethin and axons disappeared after the spinal cord was treated with sodium deoxycholate and DNaseI,RNaseA.Typical network of empty tubes were viewed in longitudinal sections.[Conclusion]An ideal spinal cord scaffold can be produced with the method designed in authors experiment.This scaffold has similar three dimensional structure with normal spinal cord,which can be used as a graft to bridge the nerve gap directly or as a scaffold to implant the seeding cells in spinal cord tissue engineering.The experiment indicates that cells and myethin can be removed and the three dimensional structure be reserved by chemical extraction with 3% sodium deoxycholate and 1KU/ml DNaseI,RNaseA.Chemical extraction is an ideal method to prepare tissue engineer scaffold of spinal cord.
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[Objective] To investigate the immunogenicity of the acellular spinal cord scaffold and to provide theoretical basis for its further application in tissue engineering.[Method]Acellular spinal cord(freeze thawing +3%sodiumdeoxycholate + DNaseI 、RNaseA)and fresh spinal cord of rats were implanted into paravertebral muscles of rats.The tissue was obtained at 1、2、3 and 4w after the operation,then the inflammatory reaction was evaluated by HE stain and the immunogenicity of acelular scaffold was tested by immunohistochemical examination of the intensity of CD3+ 、CD4+ and CD8+ cells that infiltrated the allografts.[Result]The bistological examination indicated that acellular spinal cord scaffold was surrounded by a amount of neutrophilic cells and lymphocytes one week postoperatively,yet two weeks postoperatively,there was only small amount of lymphocytes infiltration.Fresh spinal cord allograft elicited an intense acute inflammatory infiltrate,and two weeks later,there still had a mount of lymphocytes infiltration.The intensity of CD3+、CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that infiltrated the allografts was greatly lower in acellular spinal cord than that in fresh spinal cord.The mild cell-mediated host-graft immune rejection in acellular spinal cord was observed.[Conclusion]The acellular spinal cord scaffold has mild inflammatory reaction and immune rejection,suggestting it is qualified for some biological properties and it may be a potential alternative scaffold of tissue engineering.
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Objective To prepare the acellular scaffold of spinal cord and analyze its component.Methods The acellular scaffold was prepared with the freeze thawing and chemical extraction,its structure was observed by HE and SEM,its component was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.Results The cells,myelin sheath and axon of nerve fibers in the rat spinal cord were eliminated,but three-dimensional supports of extracellular matrix were reserved.The analytical results showed the component of the acellular spinal cord contain laminin,fibronectin and type Ⅳ collagen—the necessary components to facilitate and induce the regeneration of the injured nerves and enhance the adhesion and proliferation of cells.Conclusion The acellular spinal cord has three dimensional structure and contains several proteins related to the regeneration of the injured nerves and promotion of the survival and proliferation of cells.
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Objective To compare the effect of 2 decellularizing methods,sodium deoxycholate plus Triton X-100 or plus DNase and Rnase,in the preparation of acelluar allograft spinal cord scaffold in order to provide an ideal natural spinal cord scaffold to bridge the nerve gap.Methods Spinal cord was removed from health rats,and then decellularized by the method of freeze thawing(immersing in 3% sodium deoxycholate followed by the mixture of 1?103 U/ml DNase and RNase),or by chemical extraction(immersing in 1% Triton X-100 and then 1% sodium deoxycholate).HE staining,myelin staining and scanning electron microscopy(SEM) were employed to evaluate the spinal cord scaffold after the 2 methods of decellularization.Results Both cells and myelin were completely decellularized with the 2 methods.In cross section,network of the extracellular matrix was presented without axon,sheath and cells nucleus being seen in the scaffold.Typical network of empty tubes were viewed in longitudinal sections.Conclusion An ideal spinal cord scaffold can be produced with these 2 decellularizing methods in tissue engineering.The scaffold made by the 2 methods have similar three dimensional structure with normal spinal cord,so can be used as a graft to bridge the nerve gap directly or as a scaffold to implant the seeding cells in spinal cord tissue engineering.