Axon-like aligned conductive CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers combined with electrical stimulation for spinal cord injury recovery

Shenglian Yao; Yongdong Yang; Chenyu Li; Kaitan Yang; Xin Song; Chuanhong Li; Zheng Cao; He Zhao; Xing Yu; Xiumei Wang; Lu-Ning Wang

Bioactive Materials (May 2024)

Axon-like aligned conductive CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers combined with electrical stimulation for spinal cord injury recovery

Shenglian Yao,
Yongdong Yang,
Chenyu Li,
Kaitan Yang,
Xin Song,
Chuanhong Li,
Zheng Cao,
He Zhao,
Xing Yu,
Xiumei Wang,
Lu-Ning Wang

Affiliations

Shenglian Yao: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
Yongdong Yang: Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; Department of Orthopedics, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 5 Hai Yun Cang, Beijing, 100700, China
Chenyu Li: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
Kaitan Yang: Department of Orthopedics, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 5 Hai Yun Cang, Beijing, 100700, China
Xin Song: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
Chuanhong Li: Department of Orthopedics, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 5 Hai Yun Cang, Beijing, 100700, China
Zheng Cao: Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
He Zhao: Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; Department of Orthopedics, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 5 Hai Yun Cang, Beijing, 100700, China
Xing Yu: Department of Orthopedics, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 5 Hai Yun Cang, Beijing, 100700, China
Xiumei Wang: Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; Corresponding author.
Lu-Ning Wang: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 35
pp. 534 – 548

Abstract

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Rehabilitation and regenerative medicine are two promising approaches for spinal cord injury (SCI) recovery, but their combination has been limited. Conductive biomaterials could bridge regenerative scaffolds with electrical stimulation by inducing axon regeneration and supporting physiological electrical signal transmission. Here, we developed aligned conductive hydrogel fibers by incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into methacrylate acylated gelatin (GelMA) hydrogel via rotating liquid bath electrospinning. The electrospun CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers mimicked the micro-scale aligned structure, conductivity, and soft mechanical properties of neural axons. For in vitro studies, CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers supported PC12 cell proliferation and aligned adhesion, which was enhanced by electrical stimulation (ES). Similarly, the combination of aligned CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers and ES promoted neuronal differentiation and axon-like neurite sprouting in neural stem cells (NSCs). Furthermore, CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers were transplanted into a T9 transection rat spinal cord injury model for in vivo studies. The results showed that the incorporating CNTs could remain at the injury site with the GelMA fibers biodegraded and improve the conductivity of regenerative tissue. The aligned structure of the hydrogel could induce the neural fibers regeneration, and the ES enhanced the remyelination and axonal regeneration. Behavioral assessments and electrophysiological results suggest that the combination of aligned CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers and ES could significantly restore motor function in rats. This study demonstrates that conductive aligned CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers can not only induce neural regeneration as a scaffold but also support ESto promote spinal cord injury recovery. The conductive hydrogel fibers enable merging regenerative medicine and rehabilitation, showing great potential for satisfactory locomotor recovery after SCI.

Published in Bioactive Materials

ISSN: 2452-199X (Online)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials; Science: Biology (General)
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/bioactive-materials/

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