Artificial Scaffold and Neural Stem Cell for Neural Regeneration in Rats With Spinal Cord Injury

Author

Krishna Deo Sharma, Arkansas State University - Jonesboro

Date of Award

6-8-2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Molecular Biosciences, Ph.D.

First Advisor

Jennifer Xie

Second Advisor

Guolei Zhou

Committee Members

H. Joon Lee; Min Zou; Robert Griffin; Susan Motts

Call Number

LD 251 .A566d 2023 S53

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that often leads to permanent loss of sensory and motor function. Unfortunately, current treatments only manage symptoms and do not provide a complete cure. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of 3D printed scaffolds and nanomaterials (gold nanorods substrate, nanocellulose-lysine, and TEMPO cellulose) in supporting the growth and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro. We found that these materials were biocompatible, non-toxic, and able to promote the growth and differentiation of NSCs. Additionally, the unique mechanical properties of these nanomaterials make them a promising candidate for use in neuroregeneration to treat SCI. We also conducted in vivo experiments in rats with SCI and found that the combination of 3D scaffolds and NSC transplantation resulted in better recovery of motor and sensory functions compared to rats that only received NSCs. Animals in the combined therapy group showed improved hind limb locomotion, maintained body weight, and experienced less neuropathic pain. However, the study encountered technical challenges in maintaining the integrity of the spinal cord tissue and scaffold, limiting its success. Future research will aim to improve scaffold design and transplantation strategies to enhance neural regeneration in SCI. Overall, our findings suggest that combining NSC transplantation with 3D printed scaffolds could be a promising therapy for promoting the recovery of both motor and sensory functions after SCI.

Rights Management

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Recommended Citation

Sharma, Krishna Deo, "Artificial Scaffold and Neural Stem Cell for Neural Regeneration in Rats With Spinal Cord Injury" (2023). Student Theses and Dissertations. 1082.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/1082