Transplantation of Nogo-66 receptor gene-silenced cells in a poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffold for the treatment of spinal cord injury

Inhibition of neurite growth, which is in large part mediated by the Nogo-66 receptor, affects neural regeneration following bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation. The tissue engineering scaffold poly（D,L-lactide-co-glycolic acid） has good histocompatibility and can promote the growth of regenerating nerve fibers. The present study used small interfering RNA to silence Nogo-66 receptor gene expression in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and Schwann cells, which were subsequently transplanted with poly（D,L-lactide-co-glycolic acid） into the spinal cord lesion regions in rats. Simultaneously, rats treated with scaffold only were taken as the control group. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry revealed that at 4 weeks after transplantation, rats had good motor function of the hind limb after treatment with Nogo-66 receptor gene-silenced ceils prus the poly（O,L-lactide-co-glycolic acid） scaffold compared with rats treated with scaffold only, and the number of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and neuron-like cells was also increased. At 8 weeks after transplantation, horseradish peroxidase tracing and transmission electron microscopy showed a large number of unmyelinated and myelinated nerve fibers, as well as intact regenerating axonal myelin sheath following spinal cord hemisection injury. These experimental findings indicate that transplantation of Nogo-66 receptor gene-silenced bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and Schwann cells plus a poly（D,L-lactide-co-glycolic acid） scaffold can significantly enhance axonal regeneration of spinal cord neurons and improve motor function of the extremities in rats following spinal cord injury.

Synthesis of the Biomimetic Polymer: Aliphatic Diamine and RGDS Modified Poly(d,l-lactic acid)

A novel poly（d, /-lactic acid） （PDLLA） based biomimetic polymer was synthesized by grafting maleic anhydride, butanediamine and arg-gly-asp-ser （RGDS） peptides onto the backbone of PDLLA, aiming to overcome the acidity and auto-accelerating degradation of PDLLA during degradation and to improve its biospecificity and biocompatibility. The synthetic copolymer was characterized by FTIR, ^13C NMR and amino acid analyzer （AAA）.

Different crystallinity of poly(d,l-lactide-co-p-dioxanone) copolymers acquired by control of chain microstructure

Poly（d,l-lactide-co-p-dioxanone） （P（LA-co-PDO）） copolymers with different chain microstructures were synthesized by onestep or two-step bulk ring-opening polymerizations of d,l-lactide （LA） and p-dioxanone （PDO） monomers using stannous octoate [Sn（Oct）2]/n-dodecanol as the initiating system. The average sequence lengths of the lactidyl （LLA） and dioxanyl （LpDo） units were calculated from the ^1H NMR spectra. It was found that both LLA and Lpoo values from the two-step syntheses were significantly longer than those from the corresponding one-step syntheses, indicating more blocky structure achieved for the twostep copolymers. Corresponding to this difference in microstructure, the two-step copolymers were semi-crystalline, while the one-step copolymers were completely amorphous. In conclusion, the crystallinity of P（LA-co-PDO） copolymers could be adjusted conveniently to meet specific applications by changing the microstructure of the copolymers via different polymerization routes.

Preparation of a novel biodegradable β-cyclodextrin-containing polymer

A novel cyclodextrin-containing polymer was prepared by graftingβ-cyclodextrin onto the backbone of poly(D,L-lactic acid)(PLA).First,mono(6-(2-aminoethyl)amino-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin(β-CD-6-en)was prepared by sulfonylation and amination ofβ-cyclodextrin and modified poly(D,L-lactic acid)(MPLA)was prepared by free radical polymerization of maleic anhydride and PLA.Then,grafting ofβ-cyclodextrin derivative to MPLA backbone was carried out by N-acylation reaction of MPLA andβ-CD-6-en in dimethyl formamide.The...

Preparation and Degradation Characteristics of Poly(d,1-laetide) Composite Films

PDLLA/CHI/β-TCP/NGF composite films were prepared by a solvent evaporation method. The degradation characteristics of the poly （d, l-lactide） composite films were studied in vitro and in vivo. The acidity produced by poly （d, l-lactide） materials was not obvious. Adding chitosan and β-TCP can relieve the acidity problem and improve strength performance of films. The NGF has influences on the degradation characteristics of films. It is verified that PDLLA/CHI/β-TCP/NGF composite films prepared by solvent evaporation method have excellent degradation characteristics. It can be used as a perfect biomaterial for repairing nerve injuries.

Mild hypothermia combined with a scaffold of Ng Rsilenced neural stem cells/Schwann cells to treat spinal cord injury

Because the inhibition of Nogo proteins can promote neurite growth and nerve cell differentiation, a cell-scaffold complex seeded with Nogo receptor （NgR）-silenced neural stem cells and Schwann cells may be able to improve the microenvironment for spinal cord injury repair. Previous studies have found that mild hypothermia helps to attenuate secondary damage in the spinal cord and exerts a neuroprotective effect. Here, we constructed a cell-scaffold complex consisting of a poly（D,L-lactide-co-glycolic acid） （PLGA） scaffold seeded with NgR-silenced neural stem cells and Schwann cells, and determined the effects of mild hypothermia combined with the cell-scaffold complexes on the spinal cord hemi-transection injury in the T9 segment in rats. Compared with the PLGA group and the NgR-silencing cells ＋ PLGA group, hindlimb motor function and nerve electrophysiological function were dearly improved, pathological changes in the injured spinal cord were attenuated, and the number of surviving cells and nerve fibers were increased in the group treated with the NgR-silenced cell scaffold ＋ mild hypothermia at 34℃ for 6 hours. Furthermore, fewer pathological changes to the injured spinal cord and more surviving cells and nerve fibers were found after mild hypothermia therapy than in injuries not treated with mild hypothermia. These experimental results indicate that mild hypothermia combined with NgR gene-silenced cells in a PLGA scaffold may be an effective therapy for treating spinal cord injury.

Preparation, Release-control and Cell Apoptosis of C_6 Glioma Cells in PEG-PLGA-Rg3 Nanoparticles

With biodegradable material poly（ethylene glycol）-poly（lactide-co-glycolide） （PEG-PLGA） as substrate, the size distribution of Rg3-NPs was approved by the scanning electron microscopy. MTT assay was used to detect the effects of Rg3-NPs on the growth rate of C6 cells at various concentrations and flow cytometry（FCM） was applied to assay the cell cycle and cell apoptosis of C6 glioma cells. Western blot analysis was used to measure the protein level of PCNA. The results show that Rg3-NPs are slick and uniformity, the average diameter of the nanoparticles is about 75-90 nm, entrapment efficiency is （89.7±1.7）%. MTT assay shows the growth of C6 Glioma Cells can be significantly inhibited by Rg3-NPs in a dose-dependence manner. FCM and Western blot analysis show Rg3 can be released from the conjugated nanoparticles to function in the cell nuclei so as to lead to the changes in the growth cycle of the cells, which results in the arrest of G0-G1 cell cycle and induces the apoptosis of C6 cells. Therefore, Rg3-NPs may be used for the auxiliary therapy of brain glioma.

Biologically Inspired Self-assembling Synthesis of Bone-like Nano-hydroxyapatite/PLGA-(PEG-ASP)_n Composite: A New Biomimetic Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffold Material

A new biomimetic bone tissue engineering scaffold material, nano-HAI PLGA-（ PEG-Asp ）n composite, was synthesized by a biologically inspired self-assembling approach. A novel biodegradable PLGA- （ PEG-Asp ）n copolymer with pendant amine functional groups and enhanced hydrophilicity woo synthesized by bulk ring-opening copolymerization by DL-lactide（ DLLA） and glycolide（ GA ） with Aspartic acid （ Asp ）-Polyethylene glycol（PEG） alt-prepolymer. A Three-dimensional, porous scaffold of the PLGA-（ PEG- Asp）n copolymer was fabricated by a solvent casting , particulate leaching process. The scaffold woo then incubated in modified simulated body fluid （naSBF）. Growth of HA nanocrystals on the inner pore surfaces of the porous scaffold is confirmed by calcium ion binding analyses, SEM , mass increooe meoourements and quantification of phosphate content within scaffolds. SEM analysis demonstrated the nucleation and growth of a continuous bonelike, low crystalline carbonated HA nanocrystals on the inner pore surfaces of the PLGA- （ PEG-Asp ）n scaffolds. The amount of calcium binding, total mass and the mass of phosphate on experimental PLGA- （ PEG-Asp ） n scaffolds at different incubation times in mSBF was significantly greater than that of control PLGA scaffolds. This nano-HA/ PLGA-（ PEG- Asp ）n composite stunts some features of natural bone both in main composition and hierarchical microstrueture. The Asp- PEG alt-prepolymer modified PleA copolymer provide a controllable high surface density and distribution of anionic functional groups which would enhance nucleation and growth of bonelike mineral following exposure to mSBF. This biomimetic treatment provides a simple method for surface functionalization and sabsequent mineral nucleation and self-oosembling on bodegradable polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering.

Enhanced mechanical properties of linear segmented shape memory poly（urethane-urea） by incorporating flexible PEG400 and rigid piperazine

The goal of this study is to design and synthesize a linear segmented shape memory poly（urethane-urea） （SMPUU） that possesses near-body-temperature shape memory temperature （Ttran） and enhanced mechanical properties by incorporating flexible poly（ethylene glycol） 400 （PEG400） to form poly（D,L-lactic acid）-based macro- diols （PDLLA-PEG400-PDLLA） and then rigid piperazine （PPZ） as a chain extender to form the desired SMPUUs （PEG400-PUU-PPZ）. PEG400 increased Mn while maintaining a lower Tg of PDLLA-PEG400-PDLLA, which together with PPZ improved the mechanical properties of PEG400-PUU-PPZ. The obtained optimum SMPUU with enhanced mechanical properties （O＇y = 24.28 MPa; zf = 698%; Uf = 181.5 MJIm3） and a Tg of 40.62~C exhibited sound shape memory properties as well, suggesting a promising SMPUU for in vivo biomedical applications.

ANTIBACTERIAL POLY(D,L-LACTIDE)(PDLLA)FIBROUS MEMBRANES MODIFIED WITH QUATERNARY AMMONIUM MOIETIES

Antibacterial poly（D,L-lactide） （PDLLA） fibrous membranes were developed via electrospinning, followed by surface modification which involved plasma pretreatment, UV-induced graft copolymerization of 4-vinylpyridine （4VP） and quaternization of the grafted pyridine groups with hexylbromide. The success of modification with quaternized pyridinium groups on the PDLLA fibrous membranes was ascertained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）. The antibacterial activities of these membranes were assessed against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus （S. aureus） and Gram-negative Escherichia coli （E. coli）. The PDLLA fibrous membranes modified with quatemized pyridinium groups showed antibacterial efficiency against both bacteria as high as 99.999%. The results demonstrated that the antibacterial activity was based on the interaction of the positive charge of pyridinium group and negatively charged cell membrane of bacteria, resulting in loss of membrane permeability and cell leakage.

Preparation and Characterization of Polymeric Micelles from Poly (D, L-lactide) and Methoxypolyethylene Glycol Block Copolymers as Potential Drug Carriers

Amphiphilic diblock copolymers composed of methoxy polyethylene glycol （MePEG） and poly（D,L-lactide） （PDLLA） were prepared for the preparation of polymeric micelles, The use of MePEG-PDLLA as drug carriers has been reported in the open literature, but there are only few data on the application of a series of MePEG-PDLLA copolymers with different lengths in the medical field, The shape of the polymeric micelles is also important in drug delivery, Studies on in vitro drug release profiles require a good sink condition. The critical micelle concentration of a series of MePEG-PDLLA has a significant role in drug release. To estimate their feasibility as a drug carrier, polymeric micelles made of MePEG-PDLLA block copolymer were prepared by the oil in water （O/VV） emulsion method. From dynamic light scattering （DLS） measurements, the size of the micelle formed was less than 200 nm, The critical micelle concentration of polymeric micelles with various compositions was determined using pyrene as a fluorescence probe. The critical micelle concentration decreased with increasing number of hydrophobic segments. MePEG-PDLLA micelles have a considerably low critical micelle concentration （0.4～0.5 μg/mL）, which is apparently an advantage in utilizing these micelles as drug carriers. The morphology of the polymeric micelles was observed using scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, The micelles were found to be nearly spherical. The yield of the polymeric micelles obtained from the O/W method is as high as 85%.

Surface Treatment and Biomimetic Mineralization of Porous Microspheres Fabricated by Calcium Gluconate-g-Poly(D,L-lactide)

Porous hybrid microspheres were fabricated by the synthesized calcium gluconate-g-poly（D,L-lactide） （CG-g- PDLLA） composites. These hybrid microspheres were treated with an alkaline solution for different period of time to control the amount of generated carboxylate groups and remained CG on the surface. The microspheres were then incubated in a supersaturated simulated body fluid （1.5 SBF） solution for different time to investigate their biomimetic mineralization behavior. The depositions were found to have a fine cluster morphology, a similar crystal structure and chemical structure to natural hydroxyapatite, and a medium Ca/P of approximately 1.30. The effect of surface treating time on the structure and mineralization behavior of these microspheres has been discussed in detail. The results indicate that the nucleation and growth of apatite on the surface are influenced by the induced carboxylate groups and the remained CG. The hybrid CG-g- PDLLA microspheres have the potential as a novel alternative in bone tissue engineering.

Poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid)-based artesunate nanoparticles:formulation,antimalarial and toxicity assessments

Objective： The aim of this study was to formulate polymer-based artesunate nanoparticles for malaria treatment. Methods： Artesunate was loaded with poly（D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid） （PLGA） by solvent evaporation from an oil-in-water single emulsion. Nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calo- rimetry analyses. In vivo antimalarial studies at 4 mg/kg were performed on Swiss male albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Hematological and hepatic toxicity assays were performed. In vitro cytotoxicity of free and en- capsulated artesunate （Art-PLGA） to cell line RAW 264.7 was determined at concentrations of 7.8-1000 pg/ml. Re- sults： The particle size of the formulated drug was （329.3±21.7） nm and the entrapment efficiency was （38.4±10.1）%. Art-PLGA nanoparticles showed higher parasite suppression （62.6%） compared to free artesunate （58.2%, P〈0.05）. Platelet counts were significantly higher in controls （305 000.00±148 492.40） than in mice treated with free artesunate （139 500.00±20 506.10） or Art-PLGA （163 500.00±3535.53） （P〈0.05）. There was no sign of hepatic toxicity following use of the tested drugs. The half maximal inhibitory concentration （IC50） of Art-PLGA （468.0 pg/ml） was significantly higher （P〈0.05） than that of free artesunate （7.3 pg/ml） in the in vitro cytotoxicity assay. Conclusions： A simple treatment of PLGA-entrapped artesunate nanoparticles with dual advantages of low toxicity and better antiplasmodial efficacy has been developed.