Biodegradable polyurethane-incorporating decellularized spinal cord matrix scaffolds enhance Schwann cell reprogramming to promote peripheral nerve repair
Yanchao Wang, Jingjing Lin, Jinlin Chen, Ruichao Liang, Qiao Zhang, Jiehua Li, Min Shi, Lei Li, Xueling He, Ting Lan, Xuhui Hui, Hong Tan
Abstract
study indicated that BWPU-DSC NGCs could boost the proliferation and growth of cell processes in Schwann and neuron-like cells. In a rat sciatic nerve transected injury model, BWPU-DSC NGCs exhibited a dramatic increase in nerve repair, similar to that obtained by the current gold standard autograft implantation at only 6 weeks post-implantation, whereas polyurethane NGCs still displayed incomplete nerve repair. Histological analysis revealed that BWPU-DSC NGCs could induce the reprogramming of Schwann cells to promote axon regeneration and remyelination. Moreover, reprogrammed Schwann cells together with BWPU-DSC NGCs had anti-inflammatory effects and altered the activation state of macrophages to M2 phenotypes to enhance PNS regeneration. In this study, we provided a strategy to prepare polyurethane-based dECM NGCs enriched with bioactive molecules to promote PNS regeneration.