A neurodevelopment-inspired self-evolving scaffold for nerve regeneration
Yizhu Shan, Lingling Xu, Xi Cui, Jin‐Xi Zhang, Han Ouyang, Xiangxiang Wang, Jing Huang, Jiangtao Xue, Kefei Wang, Dongchuan Wang, Engui Wang, Kailiang Ren, Dan Luo, Zhou Li
Abstract
Inspired by the embryonic neural development process, we proposed a biohybrid neurodevelopment-inspired self-evolving neural scaffold (ND-SENS), which consisted of piezoelectric film with ordered micro-nano structures, extracellular matrix-like hydrogel, and stem cells. ND-SENS constructed an embryogenesis-like endogenous electrical environment to promote the differentiation of loaded mesenchymal stem cells; meanwhile, the differentiated stem cells in ND-SENS simulated the chemical environment of embryonic development through paracrine secretion, which further induced the recruitment and differentiation of endogenous stem cells, ultimately achieving self-evolving axon outgrowth. ND-SENS showed excellent neurorestorative effects in both dorsal root ganglion explant growth model and rat sciatic nerve injury model. After ND-NENS treatment, the proportion of mature neuron marker-positive area (77.39% ± 1.71%) and myelin sheath thickness (0.71 ± 0.07 μm) of regenerated nerve tissue were not significantly different from those of autologous transplantation. This biomimetic scaffold design inspired by embryonic development will bring new ideas to tissue engineering.