147 results about "Schwann cell" patented technology

A nerve repair unit comprising a resorbable polymeric support and an alginate matrix containing human Schwann cells is enclosed. A method of producing the nerve repair unit is also described. The Schwann cells are preferably cells cultured from a nerve biopsy sample from the patient who is going to receive the nerve repair unit as an implant.

Three novel low molecular weight (LMW) polypeptide fragments of a proteolipid protein human PLP/DM20 are designated PIRP-M, PIRP-L and PIRP-J, and are growth factors for oligodendrocytes with anti-apoptotic activity. They are encoded by mRNA from an IRES. Fusion polypeptides of such a LMW polypeptide, DNA encoding the LMW polypeptide and fusion polypeptide, expression vectors comprising such DNA, and cells expressing such polypeptides, or pharmaceutical compositions thereof, are useful for stimulating neural stem cell differentiation, maturation along the oligodendrocytic pathway and proliferation of oligodendrocytes or precursors. These compositions can protect oligodendrocytes (and nonneural cells) from apoptotic death. Thus, the present composition is used to treat a disease or condition in which such differentiation, maturation and proliferation or inhibition of cell death, including remyelination or stimulation of oligodendroglia or Schwann cells, is desirable. Disorders include multiple sclerosis, trauma with Parkinson's-like symptoms, hypoxic ischerriia and spinal cord trauma.

The invention discloses a chitosan artificial nerve graft containing a neurotrophic factor and a preparation method thereof. In the chitosan artificial nerve graft, chitosan is processed into a nerve conduit with a porous structure and high tensile strength by performing processes such as weak acid dissolving, injection molding, molding, neutralization fixing, cleaning, freeze drying and the like under the condition of not adding any foaming agent or crosslinking agent. The nerve conduit contains cells or tissues which have treating effects and are included or distributed inside or on the surfaces of tubular body pores, including autologous bone marrow stem cells, autologous bone mesenchymal stem cells, schwann cells or dorsal root ganglion tissues or combinations thereof. A tissue engineering nerve can be used for repairing peripheral nerve defect and can be applied to repairing of spinal cord injury simultaneously.

The invention discloses a multi-channel nerve repair conduit with a tissue induced function and a mold; chitosan-coated salidroside microspheres and composite type salidroside slow-release microspheres are prepared, the drug cumulative release amount is calculated, the composite type salidroside slow-release microspheres with different contents are mixed with I-type collagen, and salidroside slow-release microspheres/I-type collagen is obtained; a multi-aperture cylindrical nerve conduit core layer is prepared by using the mold, a nano fiber nerve conduit shell layer is prepared by a high-pressure electrostatic spinning technology, the core layer and the shell layer are nested, and thus the multi-channel nerve repair conduit with the tissue induced function is prepared. The shell layer of the conduit has a good role in exchanging with a tissue fluid, and has a function of guiding nerve growth; the core layer has the functions of guiding nerve fiber orientation growth, promoting stem cells to directionally differentiate to schwann cells and accelerating the nerve fiber growth and function recovery, effectively repairs peripheral nerve defects, has good degradation and biocompatibility, and meets the requirements of a tissue engineering scaffold material.

This invention pertains to a method and apparatus for facilitating guided growth of axons and dendrites in cell culture, for example for studies of axonal pathfinding, target cell selection, synapse formation, synaptic physiology, neuronal plasticity, drugs screening and gene perturbations. In a preferred embodiment, the invention includes a semiconducting substrate surface containing an array of capacitors that directly stimulate and read from neurons cultured on the surface. The chip may also have patterns of growth permissive substances, including Schwann cells, and/or trophic molecules that enable rapid and directed growth of axons/dendrites from cultured neurons.

Methods and compositions are provided for lineage predetermination of cellular transplants including through liposome mediated transfection with aqueous protein extracts from populations of differentiated mammalian cells, or cellular fractions thereof, wherein the differentiated mammalian cells are enriched in one or more of adipocytes, chondrocytes, endothelial cells, hepatocytes, cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells, skeletal muscle cells, cardiac pacemaker cells, Schwann cells, pancreatic islet cells, hematopoietic cells, myeloblasts, neurons, and osteoblasts.

The invention discloses preparation and application of a nerve tissue matrix derived tissue engineering scaffold material. A nerve tissue is taken as a raw material, matrix components (including nano-scale collagen microfilaments, fibronectin microfilaments and laminin microfilaments) favorable for nerve regeneration are extracted by means of medicine expansion, mechanical pulverization, enzymolysis treatment, dialysis collection and the like, and immunogenicity components (including Schwann cells, phospholipid and axons) not favorable for nerve regeneration are removed. The prepared nerve tissue matrix derived material can be further prepared into a three-dimensional porous oriented scaffold through oriented crystallization, freeze drying and crosslinking separately or by matching other polymer materials, or is prepared into a nano-scale film by an electrospinning technology, and the film is wound to form a nerve regeneration catheter. The tissue engineering scaffold or catheter prepared by the method is favorable for adhesion, proliferation and migration of seed cells, promotes nerve generation and can be used for never defect repair.

The invention discloses a preparation method of a bionic artificial nerve scaffold established by a collagen. The method comprises the following steps: firstly preparing the collagen in three different shapes for later use: 1) dissolving the frozen and dried collagen by using hexafluoroisopropanol and preparing a nanofiber thin film by using an electrospinning technique; 2) preparing a linear scaffold containing an ordered fine pipeline by the collagen by combining freezing and drying with a mechanical stretching technology; and 3) dissolving the collagen in pure water to prepare a hydrogel; then, coiling the nanofiber thin film into a tube to simulate perilemma, wherein the ordered pipeline linear scaffold is filled in the tube to simulate perineurium; and finally, filling the hydrogel in the pipeline of the linear scaffold and the gap of the scaffold to simulate endoneurium. The bionic artificial nerve scaffold based on a bionic theory better simulates the structure of peripheral nerves and can promote and guide axon and Schwann cells to grow orderly and pass through damaged peripheral nerves based on a good mechanical property.

The invention discloses a new kind of nerve allotransplant, the preparation method and its medical application. The invention employs chemical extraction method to remove the schwann cell, axon and myelin sheath that can cause rejection for nerve allotransplant, stores stroma cell and three-dimensional pipeline structure for axon regeneration, and provides intact regenerative frame. The physical and biochemical property of nerve allotransplant are similar to that of normal nerve, and can be used as nerve allotransplant for damaged nerve.

The invention relates to a construction method of a porous gelatin sponge cylinder bracket material used for repairing nerve injury, in particular to a construction method of a stem cell-containing porous gelatin sponge cylinder bracket and an application thereof. When in use, the porous gelatin sponge cylinder bracket planted with stem cells and noblecellsor thereof/and schwann cells is transplanted to the injury part of complete transaction or hemitransection spinal cord, which can better promote injured nervus centralis regeneration and function reparation. The invention has important significance in strengthening injured neuron protection after spinal cord trauma in biological tissue engineering level, promoting axonal regeneration of injured neuron, improving quality of life of the sick and injured, reducing the heavy burdens of society and families, and promoting socioeconomic development of China.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cell-containing composition capable of suppressing the outflow of the cells after transplantation and improving the survival rate of the cells. The present invention provides a composition which comprises any of bone marrow stromal cell-derived neural precursor cells, bone marrow stromal cell-derived Schwann cells, or bone marrow stromal cell-derived skeletal muscle cells; and a biocompatible polymer.

Belonging to the technical field of medical biomaterials, the invention in particular relates to a polylactic acid-chitosan composite nerve conduit. The composite nerve conduit is composed of oriented polylactic acid electrospun fiber and a chitosan layer wrapping the fiber. The invention also provides a preparation method of the polylactic acid/chitosan composite nerve conduit, and application of the nerve conduit in preparation of peripheral nerve defect repair materials. The polylactic acid-chitosan composite nerve conduit prepared by the invention has excellent biomechanical properties and superior hydrophilcity, also has good biological tissue compatibility, can significantly promote the attachment, migration and proliferation of Schwann cells, is easy to cut and preserve, and is simple to operate during clinical use, thus having good clinical application prospects in the peripheral nerve damage repair field.

The invention discloses a preparation method of a bidirectional gradient vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by virtue of a nerve conduit. The preparation method comprises the following steps: preparing an electrostatic spinning polycaprolactone (PCL) conduit, carrying out bidirectional gradient ammonolysis on the PCL conduit, preparing a bidirectional gradient heparinization conduit by carrying out heparin coupling reaction, and preparing a bidirectional gradient VEGF conduit. According to the invention, a PCL conduit bidirectional ammonolysis device obtains a gradient conduit with high -NH2 density of a central part and the -NH2 density gradually reduced toward two ends; the bidirectional gradient VEGF functionalized nerve conduit provided by the invention is characterized in that quantity of the VEGFs loaded at the central part is high, and the quantity of the VEGFs loaded at the two ends is relatively low; endothelial cells at the two ends of an injured nerve can be enabled to migrate to a high concentration place at the center of the conduit by virtue of chemotaxis, so that directional vascularization of the nerve conduit from the two ends to the central part is accelerated; and a generated blood vessel can serve as a support for guiding Schwann cells to quickly migrate into the nerve conduit, so that regeneration of a nerve is promoted.

The invention provides a conditioned medium that enhances the survival and/or proliferation of Schwann cells in cell culture, and a cell line useful for production of such medium. The cell line used in the invention is a differentiated NTera2/D1 (NT2) cell line.

The present invention provides a method of inducing myelination of isolated motoneurons by preparing a non-biological substrate having thereon a covalently attached monolayer of DETA; depositing isolated motoneurons on the substrate in a defined serum-free medium; plating isolated Schwann cells cultured in the defined serum-free medium onto the motoneurons, thereby initiating a co-culture; and passaging the co-culture as necessary into fresh, defined serum-free medium supplemented with L-ascorbic acid at least until the motoneurons form Nodes of Ranvier indicative of myelination. The invention also includes a method of testing for new drugs effective in demyelinating diseases. Additionally, cellular products provided by the invention include an isolated motoneurons myelinated or remyelinated in vitro according to the methods disclosed.

The invention belongs to the field of traditional Chinese medicaments and relates to a compound preparation for promoting neuromuscular regeneration and a preparation method thereof. The compound preparation is prepared from raw material medicaments, such as codonopsis pilosula, astragalus, root of red-rooted salvia and the like, and medicinally acceptable auxiliary materials or auxiliary ingredients according to a specific weight ratio by a water extraction method. The result of a pharmacological test shows that the compound preparation can increase GAP-43 expression in early damaged nerve, can be competitively combined to a G protein reaction site, can promote quick growth of axon and can contribute to reconstruction of synapse. The result of an animal test shows that the compound preparation promotes metabolism of an organism, increases blood supply of a damaged part, eliminates degenerated myelin sheath, promotes fission and proliferation of Schwann cells and has obvious effect of accelerating regeneration of peripheral nerves after the peripheral nerves are damaged. The compound preparation can be further prepared into a medicament clinically used for promoting neuromuscular regeneration so as to bring benefit to more patients suffered from nerve injury.

Neurosupportive materials that possess strong tissue adhesion were synthesized by photocrosslinking two polymers, gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and methacryloyl-substituted tropoelastin (MeTro). The engineered materials exhibited tunable mechanical properties by varying the GelMA/MeTro ratio. In addition, GelMA/MeTro hydrogels exhibited 15-fold higher adhesive strength to nerve tissue ex vivo compared to traditionally used fibrin-based materials. Furthermore, the composites were shown to support Schwann cell (SC) viability and proliferation, as well as neurite extension and glial cell participation in vitro, which are essential cellular components for nerve regeneration. Finally, subcutaneously implanted GelMA/MeTro hydrogels exhibited slower degradation in vivo compared with pure GelMA, indicating its potential to support the growth of slowly regenerating nerves. Thus, GelMA/MeTro composites may be used as clinically relevant biomaterials to regenerate nerves and reduce the need for microsurgical suturing during nerve reconstruction.

A polymerizable unit that yields an electrochemically responsive polymer (advantageously pyrrole) is anchored by polymerization within a polycaprolactone matrix to form an electroactive scaffold upon which cells can be cultured and in which the micro- and nano-topological features of the polycaprolactone matrix are preserved. A scaffold manufactured in accordance with the preferred embodiment can support Schwann cells, which produce nerve growth factor when electrically stimulated. Nerve growth factor has been demonstrated to promote the regeneration of nerve tissue. By implanting the scaffold on which Schwann cells have been cultured into damaged nerve tissue and applying a voltage across the scaffold, nerve growth factor is produced, thereby promoting repair of the damaged nerve tissue.

The invention discloses a nerve conduit of a magnesium wire and silk compositely woven structure and a preparation method of the nerve conduit. Medical metal magnesium wires with the high mechanical properties are adopted as axial yarn to be added into a silk woven structure, the longitudinal guiding effect is achieved, the radial compressive property of a woven skeleton can be further improved, meanwhile, the magnesium wires can be degraded slowly, growing and proliferating of Schwann cells are promoted, and injured nerves are recovered advantageously; and weaving yarn is degummed silk and has good biocompatibility, and a biological microenvironment for promoting nerve regeneration is formed while the good mechanical properties are ensured.

The invention discloses a purpose of curcumin or a drug-loading system thereof in preparation of the drug for treating penis erection dysfunction. An experiment proves that the curcumin and a curcuminslow release drug film can up-regulate the expression of GAP-43 and MAP-2 to accelerate growth of the nerve axon and can up-regulate the expression of Oct-6 and Krox-20 to accelerate Schwann cells tosynthesize and secrete myelin sheath-associated protein so as to accelerate formation of the nerve axon myelin sheath. Meanwhile, repair and regeneration after a rat suffers from cavernous body nerveinjury, neural pathway continuity of the cavernous body is recovered, and expression of penis tissue nerve terminal nNOS mRNA and protein is increased. The penis erection function of the rat who suffers from the cavernous body nerve injury can be further improved, meanwhile, a penis tissue fibrosis degree is lowered, and rehabilitation of the penis after the cavernous body nerve injury is effectively accelerated. Therefore, the curcumin and the drug-loading system thereof perform a good application prospect in the preparation of the drug for treating the penis erection dysfunction and repairing the cavernous body nerve injury.

A method for producing an engineered tissue scaffold for neural repair is described. The method includes tethering a hydrogel matrix seeded with tension-generating cells to a frame, and allowing the tension-generating cells to generate tension within the matrix, such that the cells self-align. The matrix may then be at least partially dehydrated to form a sheet. The tension-generating cells are stem cells capable of differentiating into cells having Schwann-cell-like properties, or are derived from such stem cells. In preferred embodiments, the cells are neural stem cells, for example conditionally immortalized neural stem cells of fetal cortex origin.