Nanotechnology versus stem cell engineering: in vitro comparison of neurite inductive potentials

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Peripheral nerve reconstruction requires innovative solutions when nerve autotransplantation is not feasible.
• Supporting peripheral nerve regeneration (PNR) can be achieved through targeted delivery of neurotrophic factors (NTFs).
• Nanotechnology and stem cell engineering offer potential platforms for NTF delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comparatively investigate the bioactivity of NTFs conjugated to iron oxide nanoparticles (np-NTFs) and genetically engineered bone marrow-derived stem cells (NTF-BMSCs).
• To assess the neurite outgrowth inductive activity of these approaches in various neuronal culture models.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized np-NTFs and engineered NTF-BMSCs.
• Evaluated neurite outgrowth in sensory dorsal root ganglion neurons (adult and neonatal) and PC-12 cells.
• Compared the efficacy of np-NTFs, NTF-BMSCs, and primary BMSCs.

Main Results:

• np-NTFs reliably supported neurite outgrowth across all tested models, demonstrating long-term bioactivity superior to free NTFs.
• Engineered NTF-BMSCs showed reduced efficacy in sensory neurite outgrowth but enhanced activity in PC-12 cells.
• Primary BMSCs matched np-NTFs in sensory neurite induction but impaired PC-12 cell differentiation.

Conclusions:

• Nanotechnology, specifically np-NTFs, demonstrated superior in vitro performance for PNR compared to stem cell engineering.
• np-NTFs are readily suspendable in hydrogel matrices for potential delivery within nerve conduits in future in vivo studies and clinical applications.