134 results about "Neurite" patented technology

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a device that combines microfabrication, microfluidic, and surface micropatterning techniques to create a multi-compartment neuronal culturing device that has application across a number of different neuroscience uses. Devices configured in accordance with the invention allow directed growth of neurites and isolation of neurites from their cell bodies. The device can use hydrostatic pressure to isolate insults to one compartment and, thus, expose localized areas of neurons to insults. Due to the high resistance of the microgrooves for fluid transport, insults are contained in the neuritic compartment without appreciable leakage into the somal compartment for a certain period of time (e.g., over 15 h).

Disclosed is a bio-electrospinning technique for preparing a cell-containing, oriented, continuous tubular scaffold, made of biodegradable polymer, designed for use as a nerve guide conduit (NGC) in nerve regeneration. With a coaxial spinneret, the PC-12 cell medium solution was co-electrospun into a core of tubular fibers, with PLA on the outer shell. The resulted fibers' morphology was characterized via SEM and optical microscopy, and following structural characteristics were found: 1. the larger, hollow fibers had diameters in tenth of microns and wall thicknesses around few microns, 2. an orientation in a preferred direction with the aid of a high-rotating collection device. The fluorescent PC12 cells embedded within the scaffold were cultured and nerve growth factor was added. We observed cells could not only survive the process, but also sustain their viability by undergoing differentiation process, extending neurite along the micro tubular scaffold in the desired direction. All these results demonstrate its potential application for advanced NGC.

The present invention relates to the discovery that biocompatible anionic polymers can effectively inhibit fibrosis, scar formation, and surgical adhesions. The invention is predicated on the discovery that anionic polymers effectively inhibit invasion of cells associated with detrimental healing processes, and in particular, that the effectiveness of an anionic polymer at inhibiting cell invasion correlates with the anionic charge density of the polymer. Thus the present invention provides a large number of materials for use in methods of inhibiting fibrosis and fibroblast invasion. Anionic polymers for use in the invention include but are not limited to natural proteoglycans, and the glycosaminoglycan moieties of proteoglycans. Additionally, anionic carbohydrates and other anionic polymers may be used. The anionic polymers dextran sulfate and pentosan polysulfate are preferred. In a more preferred embodiment, dextran sulfate, in which the sulfur content is greater than about 10% by weight, may be used. In a more preferred embodiment, the average molecular weight is about 40,000 to 500,000 Daltons. The present invention provides compositions and methods to inhibit fibrosis and scarring associated with surgery. The invention further provides compositions and methods to inhibit glial cell invasion, detrimental bone growth and neurite outgrowth. In a preferred embodiment, the inhibitory compositions further comprise an adhesive protein.

A statistical and functional correlation strategy to identify changes in cellular pathways specifically linked to impaired cognitive function with aging. Analyses using the strategy identified multiple groups of genes expressed in the hippocampi of mammals, where the genes were expressed at different levels for several ages. The aging changes in expression began before mid-life. Many of the genes were involved in specific neuronal and glial pathways with previously unrecognized relationships to aging and/or cognitive decline. The processes identified by the strategy suggest a new hypothesis of brain aging in which initially decreased neuronal activity and/or oxidative metabolism trigger separate but parallel genomic cascades in neurons and glia. In neurons, the cascade results in elevations in calcium signaling and reductions of immediate early gene signaling, biosynthesis, synaptogenesis and neurite remodeling. In contrast, glia undergo increased lipid metabolism and mediate a cycle of demyelination and remyelination that induces antigen presentation, inflammation, oxidative stress and extracellular restructuring. These identified genes and the proteins they encode can be used as novel biomarkers of brain aging and as targets for developing treatment methods against age-related cognitive decline, Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease.

An apparatus for stimulating regeneration and repair of damaged spinal nerves, comprising at least two electrodes placed intravertebrally near the site of spinal neurite injury and delivering direct current thereto. A method for stimulating regeneration and repair of damaged spinal nervous tissue, comprising placing electrodes intravertebrally near the site of spinal cord injury and applying direct current at a level sufficient to induce regeneration and repair of damaged spinal neurites but less than the current level at which tissue toxicity occurs.

The present invention relates generally to methods for promoting regeneration, outgrowth and survival of dopaminergic neurons comprising contacting said dopaminergic neurons with an effective amount of a composition comprising an Sp35 antagonist. Additionally, the invention is related generally to methods of treating various diseases, disorders or injuries associated with dopaminergic neuronal degeneration or death by administration of an Sp35 antagonist.

The invention discloses a device and a method for establishing single-cell level connection between neurons; the device comprises a basement whose upper surface is provided with protein band, and the region outside the protein band at the basement is covered by a polyether F127 layer; a PDMS stamp which is covered to the upper surface of the basement and whose lower surface is provided with a micro-groove unit; the micro-groove unit comprises: a linear type intermediate groove and at least one linear type side groove which is arranged at the left side or/and the right side of the intermediate groove, the middle section of the side groove does not intersect with the intermediate groove, and two end sections outside the middle section of the side groove incline to the direction away from the intermediate groove; the groove end is provided with a vertical hole channel; the protein band intersects with the groove without superposition; neurons are sent into the channel and only adhere to the protein band, the neurite directionally grows along the protein band without branching, thereby obtaining single-line connection of neuron single-cell level; the structure is simple, the operation is easy, and the orderly growth of the neurite can be controlled, and the electrical signal transduction between the neurocytes can be precisely studied, furthermore, the invention provides foundation support for manufacturing of bio-sensors.

An apparatus and method for purification and assay of neurites is useful for separation and analyses of extension organelles and/or protrusion of cells for purification, production, observation, and quantification of neurites in the neurobiology field. The present invention provides a pore-sized controlled porous filter membrane which outspace side surface is coated with a cell adhesion layer to form an adhesion surface, and combines the neuronal cells with the porous filter membrane in an aqueous environment under conditions in which outgrown neurites from cell bodies of the neuronal cells are attracted to and grow on the adhesion surface, wherein the outgrown neurites of the neuronal cells pass through pores provided in the porous filter membrane to the adhesion surface while each of the pores has a size smaller than the cell bodies of the neuronal cells so as to prevent the cell bodies of the neuronal cells passing through the pores and remaining on an opposing side surface of the porous filter membrane.

A neuronal cell death inhibitor comprising a compound having an inhibitory activity on the production and/or release of glutamic acid in a microglia; by inhibiting the production and/or release in a microglia, neurite bead-like degeneration or neuronal cell death can be inhibited.

The invention discloses a nervous tissue engineering fibrous membrane and a preparation method. The method comprises the following steps of: dissolving a high molecular material into water or an organic solvent to prepare electrostatic spinning solution; injecting the high molecular solution into an injector; performing electro-spinning to form nanofibers, which are arranged tidily, to prepare a high molecular fibrous membrane; and immersing the high molecular fibrous membrane into pyrrole aqueous solution to form core-sheath fibers. In the preparation method of the nervous tissue engineering fibrous membrane provided by the invention, the fibrous membrane is constituted by conductive core-shell nanofibers; the core is high molecule which has excellent material biocompatibility; the nanofibers are arranged tidily by controlling the preparation conditions; the shell-layer material is polypyrrole; the biocompatibility is good; the prepared core-sheath fiber can provide a unique platform to grow and extend neurites; and the process is simple, easy to operate and low in cost and has broad application prospect in the field of nervous tissue engineering.

The invention demonstrates that, contrary to apoptotic rabies virus G proteins, certain non-apoptotic rabies virus G proteins, such as the G protein of the CVS-NIV strain, have a neurite outgrowth promoting effect. The invention further demonstrates that this neurite outgrowth promoting effect is due to the cytoplasmic tail of said non-apoptotic rabies virus G proteins, more particularly to their PDZ-BS, which shows a single-point mutation compared to the one of apoptotic rabies virus G proteins. The invention provides means for inducing and/or stimulating neurite outgrowth, which are useful in inducing neuron differentiation, for example for the treatment of a neoplasm of the nervous system, as well as in regenerating impaired neurons, for example for the treatment of a neurodegenerative disease, disorder or condition or in the treatment of a microbial infection, or in protecting neurons from neurotoxic agents or oxidative stress.

Neurotrophin binding to its specific receptors Trk A and p75 leads to the activation of multiple signalling cascades, culminating in neuroprotective and regenerative effects, including neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth. Neurotrophic factors have been used for the treatment of several neurodegenerative diseases. However, their use is limited by their inability to cross the blood-brain barrier, their short half life and their side effects. Small molecule neurotrophin mimetics may be beneficial in treating a number of neurodegenerative disorders. The present invention shows the capacity of nerve growth factor agonist molecules of Formulae I-IV, as defined in the specification, to induce differentiation in PC 12 cells, promote survival in RN22 cells and activate Trk A, IkBa and SAPK/JNK phosphorylation to various extents in both cell lines. In addition these molecules were able to ameliorate acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a multiple sclerosis (MS) animal model, inhibiting brain inflammation and reducing brain damage. We also observed suppression in the production of pro-inflammatory genes like the inducible nitric oxide synthase. These small molecules with NGF agonist activity may be beneficial for MS and other neurodegenerative diseases due to its neuroprotective and immunomodulatory properties.

This disclosure relates to modulation of the interactions between proNTs and p75^NTR/SorCS2 expressed on neuronal cells. Inhibition of such interactions is useful for reducing unwanted synaptic elimination, neurite pruning and/or other neuronal structural collapses, and for treating early stage and mild neurological disorders including mild cognitive impairment.

The invention provides a cucurbitane type triterpene compound and an extraction method. The extraction method comprises the following steps: grinding bitter gourd fruit into powder; performing digestion in methanol; extracting with ethyl acetate and water to obtain crude extracts of water layer and ester layer; separating and purifying the crude extracts respectively to obtain the target compound.The cucurbitane type triterpene compound provided by the invention is a novel compound, the extraction method is simple and easy, and the yield is high. The cucurbitane type triterpene compound provided by the invention remarkably increases the neurite differentiation rate of PC12 cells in an in-vitro screening model resisting Alzheimer's disease, and can be used for preparing medicines and healthcare products resisting Alzheimer's disease. The invention provides a basis for new drug research and development as well as basic research against Alzheimer's disease, and has important practical significance. The structural formula of the cucurbitane type triterpene compound is shown in the specification.