Increasing capillary diameter and the incorporation of gelatin enhance axon outgrowth in alginate-based anisotropic hydrogels

Substantial recovery of function following peripheral and central nervous system (CNS) injury critically depends on longitudinally directed axon regeneration across the injury site, which requires a mechanical guidance providing scaffold. We have previously shown that anisotropic alginate-based hydr...

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Main Authors: Pawar, Kiran Chandrakantrao (Author) , Mueller, Rainer (Author) , Caioni, Massimiliano (Author) , Prang, Peter (Author) , Bogdahn, Ulrich (Author) , Kunz, Werner (Author) , Weidner, Norbert (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 16 April 2011
In: Acta biomaterialia
Year: 2011, Volume: 7, Issue: 7, Pages: 2826-2834
ISSN:1878-7568
DOI:10.1016/j.actbio.2011.04.006
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2011.04.006
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Author Notes:Kiran Pawar, Rainer Mueller, Massimiliano Caioni, Peter Prang, Ulrich Bogdahn, Werner Kunz, Norbert Weidner
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Summary:Substantial recovery of function following peripheral and central nervous system (CNS) injury critically depends on longitudinally directed axon regeneration across the injury site, which requires a mechanical guidance providing scaffold. We have previously shown that anisotropic alginate-based hydrogels with a defined capillary diameter (25 μm), which form via a self-organizing process driven by unidirectional diffusion of divalent cations into sodium alginate sols, promoted longitudinally oriented elongation of CNS axons in vitro and in vivo. In the present study the influence of various capillary diameters and the incorporation of gelatin to promote directed axon outgrowth and Schwann cell migration were assessed in a dorsal root ganglion outgrowth assay in vitro. Superimposing an alginate sol with Cu(2+), Sr(2+), or Zn(2+) ion containing solutions allowed the creation of hydrogels with capillaries 18, 25 and 55 μm in diameter, respectively. Axon outgrowth and Schwann cell migration were analyzed in terms of axon length/density and Schwann cell density within the capillary structures. Axon ingrowth into capillary hydrogels, which was always accompanied by Schwann cells, was enhanced with increasing capillary diameter. The incorporation of gelatin did not influence overall axon density, but promoted the length of axon outgrowth within the hydrogels. The longitudinal orientation of axons decreased in wider capillaries, which suggests that medium-sized capillaries are the optimal substrate to elicit substantial axon growth and longitudinal orientation after axon injury.
Item Description:Gesehen am 06.10.2022
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1878-7568
DOI:10.1016/j.actbio.2011.04.006