Effect of nanoparticles carrying chondroitin sulfate ABC on the migration of schwann cells in a magnetic field / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The clinical effect of spinal cord injury is usually unfavorable due to the lack of axon regeneration and the formation of glial scar. Schwann cells, as the support cells for nerve regeneration, have poor migration ability in the central nervous system with abundant astrocytes, which limit its effect on axon regeneration. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect on the migration of Schwann cells containing superparamagnetic nanoparticles loaded with chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) in the region of astrocytes in the external magnetic field. METHODS: Schwann cells and astrocytes were extracted from sciatic nerves and brachial plexus and cerebral cortex of Sprague-Dawley rats of postnatal day 1 to 3. Cell purity was identified by immunofluorescence staining. The toxicity of superparamagnetic nanoparticles (PEI-SPIONs) to Schwann cells was analyzed by live/dead cell staining. Schwann cells were transfected with PEI-SPIONS in an external magnetic field of 1.4Td for 2 days. The optimal transfection concentration of PEI-SPIONS used was 2 mg/L and the optimal mass ratio of PEI-SPIONS to ChABC was 14. Cell migration test was used to evaluate the migration ability of not-treated Schwann cells, PEI-SPIONs/ ChABC transfected Schwann cells, and PEI-SPIONs/ChABC transfected Schwann cells in an external magnetic field. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The purity of Schwann cells and astrocytes reached to (91.7±1.2)% and (93.3±2.2)%, respectively. Compared with the Schwann cells group, the number of PEI-SPIONs/ChABC-transfected Schwann cells that entered the region of astrocytes was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Under the external magnetic field, the number of PEI-SPIONs/ChABC-transfected Schwann cells that entered the region of astrocytes and the cell migration distance were significantly increased as compared with the Schwann cells group (P < 0.005). In summary, PEI-SPIONs/ChABC transfection can enhance the ability of Schwann cells to break the glial scar, and increase the fusion of astrocytes. Under the guidance of external magnetic field, the migration ability of Schwann cells is significantly elevated. This method may be a new strategy to promote nerve regeneration after spinal cord injury.