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Current Neurovascular Research

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1567-2026
ISSN (Online): 1875-5739

Research Article

Acellular Spinal Cord Scaffold Implantation Promotes Vascular Remodeling with Sustained Delivery of VEGF in a Rat Spinal Cord Hemisection Model

Author(s): Zi-Xing Xu, Li-Qun Zhang, Chang-Sheng Wang, Rong-Sheng Chen, Gui-Shuang Li, Yu Guo and Wei-Hong Xu*

Volume 14, Issue 3, 2017

Page: [274 - 289] Pages: 16

DOI: 10.2174/1567202614666170718093508

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: Promoting angiogenesis provides a possible therapeutic approach in treating spinal cord injury (SCI). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a pro-angiogenic substance that is involved in endothelial cell (EC) proliferation, migration, and survival. Exogenous administration of VEGF to the lesion epicenter of the spinal cord has been recently revealed as a potential method for promoting the blood vessel sprouting.

Methods: Spinal cord hemisection in a rat model was established and angiogenesis was studied through implant of an acellular spinal cord scaffold (ASCS) with sustained delivery of VEGF165. The poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulating VEGF165 were fabricated on basis of an emulsion and solvent evaporation method and conjugated to ASCS by a Genipin (GP) crosslinking technology. The resultant scaffolds were marked as V-ASCS. VEGF165 entrapment efficiency (EE) and released kinetics were determined by an ultraviolet absorption measurement. Angiogenesis and vascular remodeling were observed via a high-resolution micro-CT and analyzed quantitatively by vascular morphometric parameters. Spinal cord histology and Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale were further studied.

Results: VEGF165 was entrapped with high efficiency (90.8±3.1) %. In vitro VEGF165 release kinetics study showed an initial burst of 1.966 μg mg NPs-1 and 1.045μg mg V-ASCS-1 respectively in the first 24 hours. In the phase of sustained release, approximately 0.040μg mg NPs-1 and 0.022μg mg V-ASCS-1 per day was on-going until 720h. In the rat spinal cord hemisection model, implant of V-ASCS at the injured site showed a promotion of angiogenesis and vascular remodeling following SCI. A better outcome can be confirmed histologically. However, functional improvement is limited in the animal model.

Conclusion: The results indicate that progress of vascular reconstruction is accelerated in the V-ASCS implanted SCI rats. Keywords: Spinal cord injury (SCI), acellular spinal cord

Keywords: Spinal cord injury (SCI), acellular spinal cord scaffold (ASCS), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nano-particles, sustained delivery system, vascular remodeling.


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