Chitosan Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles to Provide Neural Regeneration and Recovery after Experimental Model Induced Peripheral Nerve Injury
Nadina Liana Pop,
Alexandrina Nan,
Andrada Elena Urda-Cimpean,
Adrian Florea,
Vlad Alexandru Toma,
Remus Moldovan,
Nicoleta Decea,
Daniela Rodica Mitrea,
Remus Orasan
Affiliations
Nadina Liana Pop
Department of Physiology, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Clinicilor Street No. 1-3, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania
Alexandrina Nan
National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, Donath Street No. 67-103, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania
Andrada Elena Urda-Cimpean
Department of Informatics and Biostatistics, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Pasteur Street No. 4-6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania
Adrian Florea
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Pasteur Street No. 4-6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania
Vlad Alexandru Toma
Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, Babeș-Bolyai University, Clinicilor Street No. 4-6, 400000 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania
Remus Moldovan
Department of Physiology, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Clinicilor Street No. 1-3, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania
Nicoleta Decea
Department of Physiology, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Clinicilor Street No. 1-3, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania
Daniela Rodica Mitrea
Department of Physiology, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Clinicilor Street No. 1-3, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania
Remus Orasan
Department of Physiology, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Clinicilor Street No. 1-3, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania
(1) Background: Peripheral nerve injuries have a great impact on a patient’s quality of life and a generally poor outcome regarding functional recovery. Lately, studies have focused on different types of nanoparticles and various natural substances for the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries. This is the case of chitosan, a natural compound from the crustaceans’ exoskeleton. The present study proposes to combine chitosan benefic properties to the nanoparticles’ ability to transport different substances to specific locations and evaluate the effects of magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with chitosan (CMNPs) on peripheral nerve injuries’ rehabilitation by using an in vivo experimental model. (2) Methods: CMNPs treatment was administrated daily, orally, for 21 days to rats subjected to right sciatic nerve lesion and compared to the control group (no treatment) by analyzing the sciatic functional index, pain level, body weight, serum nerve growth factor levels and histology, TEM and EDX analysis at different times during the study. (3) Results: Animals treated with CMNPs had a statistically significant functional outcome compared to the control group regarding: sciatic functional index, pain-like behavior, total body weight, which were confirmed by the histological and TEM images. (4) Conclusions: The results of the study suggest that CMNPs appear to be a promising treatment method for peripheral nerve injuries.
