Pharmacology active microcarriers delivering HGF associated with extracellular vesicles for myocardial repair.

Despite the curative approaches developed against myocardial infarction, cardiac cell death causes dysfunctional heart contractions that depend on the extent of the ischemic area and the reperfusion period. Cardiac regeneration may allow neovascularization and limit the ventricular remodeling caused by the scar tissue. We have previously found that large extracellular vesicles, carrying Sonic Hedgehog (lEVs), displayed proangiogenic and antioxidant properties, and decreased myocardial infarction size when administrated by intravenous injection.

Impact of the physico-chemical properties of polymeric microspheres functionalized with cell adhesion molecules on the behavior of mesenchymal stromal cells.

Polymeric, biodegradable, microspheres (MS) presenting a biomimetic surface of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are currently used for transporting cells and/or encapsulated proteins for regenerative medicine studies. They can be made of (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) or of a more hydrophilic PLGA-P188 (Poloxamer188)-PLGA polymer allowing for the complete release of the therapeutic proteins. They promote stem cell adhesion, cell survival and differentiation after transplantation.

Curdlan-Chitosan Electrospun Fibers as Potential Scaffolds for Bone Regeneration.

Polysaccharides have received a lot of attention in biomedical research for their high potential as scaffolds owing to their unique biological properties. Fibrillar scaffolds made of chitosan demonstrated high promise in tissue engineering, especially for skin. As far as bone regeneration is concerned, curdlan (1,3-β-glucan) is particularly interesting as it enhances bone growth by helping mesenchymal stem cell adhesion, by favoring their differentiation into osteoblasts and by limiting the osteoclastic activity.

A Combinatorial Cell and Drug Delivery Strategy for Huntington's Disease Using Pharmacologically Active Microcarriers and RNAi Neuronally-Committed Mesenchymal Stromal Cells.

For Huntington's disease (HD) cell-based therapy, the transplanted cells are required to be committed to a neuronal cell lineage, survive and maintain this phenotype to ensure their safe transplantation in the brain. We first investigated the role of RE-1 silencing transcription factor (REST) inhibition using siRNA in the GABAergic differentiation of marrow-isolated adult multilineage inducible (MIAMI) cells, a subpopulation of MSCs. We further combined these cells to laminin-coated poly(lactic--glycolic acid) PLGA pharmacologically active microcarriers (PAMs) delivering BDNF in a controlled fashion to stimulate the survival and maintain the differentiation of the cells.

A new glioblastoma cell trap for implantation after surgical resection.

Glioblastoma (GB) is a highly infiltrative tumor, recurring, in 90% of cases, within a few centimeters of the surgical resection cavity, even with adjuvant chemo/radiotherapy. Residual GB cells left in the margins or infiltrating the brain parenchyma shelter behind the extremely fragile and sensitive brain tissue and may favor recurrence. Tools for eliminating these cells without damaging the brain microenvironment are urgently required.