Currently, there are no effective methods to restore lost brain neurons, although rapid progress in the study of stem cell biology and the creation of biomaterials provides new means for stimulating the regeneration of the central nervous system.

French scientists from the Cell Therapy Research Institute have developed a bioactive substrate that has neurogenic properties. The substrate is prepared by cryotherapy from dextran or gelatin bound to laminin, the main component of the extracellular matrix of the brain.

Scientists have shown that such a substrate in vitro promotes the differentiation of stem cells derived from human umbilical cord blood into an artificial nerve tissue. In a series of experiments, it was found that the optimal pore size in the substrate for creating a neural tissue is 80-100 microns. The substrate, seeded with undifferentiated and uncommitted stem cells to neural differentiation, creates "niche-like" structures that are optimal for cell adhesion and proliferation. Subsequently, cells differentiate and mature, forming a three-dimensional neural network consisting of neurons (MAP2 +) and glial (S100beta +) cells.

In experiments on rats it was shown that the cryogel substrate can be transplanted into the brain tissue. The substrate does not cause inflammatory reactions mediated by microglial cells (ED1-, Ox43-, Iba1-) and prevents the formation of glial scars (GFAP-).

On the contrary, the laminin-enriched substrate attracts the infiltrating neuroblasts (NF200 +, Nestin +) of the recipient, which indicates its neuroregenerative properties.

According to Dr. P. Katunyan, the head physician of the Moscow Center for Biomedical Technology, a bioactive substrate proposed by scientists can find a clinical application for stimulating the regeneration of the tissues of the central nervous system.

News. Gradusnik. En.

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