Topographical effects on fiber-mediated microRNA delivery to control oligodendroglial precursor cells development.

Effective remyelination in the central nervous system (CNS) facilitates the reversal of disability in patients with demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Unfortunately until now, effective strategies of controlling oligodendrocyte (OL) differentiation and maturation remain limited. It is well known that topographical and biochemical signals play crucial roles in modulating cell fate commitment.

Mussel-Inspired Modification of Nanofibers for REST siRNA Delivery: Understanding the Effects of Gene-Silencing and Substrate Topography on Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Neuronal Commitment.

In this study, we promote neuronal differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) through scaffold-mediated sustained release of siRNA targeting RE-1 silencing transcription factor (REST). Poly (ϵ-caprolactone) nanofibers were surface modified with mussel inspired DOPA-melanin (DM) coating for adsorption of REST siRNA. DM modification increased siRNA-loading efficiency and reduced the initial burst release.

Nanofiber-mediated release of retinoic acid and brain-derived neurotrophic factor for enhanced neuronal differentiation of neural progenitor cells.

The treatment of an injured central nervous system using stem-cell-based regenerative medicine still faces considerable hurdles that need to be overcome. Chief among which is the lack of efficient strategies to generate functional neurons from stem cells. The sustained delivery of biochemical cues and synergistic topographical signaling from electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds may be a potential strategy to enhance neuronal differentiation of stem cells for therapeutic purposes.

Nanofiber-mediated microRNA delivery to enhance differentiation and maturation of oligodendroglial precursor cells.

Remyelination in the central nervous system (CNS) is critical in the treatment of many neural pathological conditions. Unfortunately, the ability to direct and enhance oligodendrocyte (OL) differentiation and maturation remains limited. It is known that microenvironmental signals, such as substrate topography and biochemical signaling, regulate cell fate commitment.

Nanofibrous scaffold-mediated REST knockdown to enhance neuronal differentiation of stem cells.

At present, the recovery prospect for patients with chronic neurodegenerative diseases or acute trauma in the central nervous system is sub-optimal. The controlled differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NPCs) to functional neurons is a possible treatment strategy. In contrast to the classical approach of biochemicals supplementation for guided stem cell commitment, this study explores the feasibility of directing neuronal differentiation through synergistic integration of three-dimensional nanofibrous topographical cues and scaffold-mediated knockdown of RE-1 silencing transcription factor (REST) in mouse NPCs.

Directing neuronal differentiation of primary neural progenitor cells by gene knockdown approach.

Directing differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NPCs) to produce functional neurons is a promising remedy for neural pathological conditions. The major challenge, however, lies in the effective and efficient generation of a sizable population of neurons. A potential strategy is to incorporate RNA interference (RNAi) during directed stem cell differentiation to recapitulate the complex cell-signaling cascades that often occurs during the process.

Scaffold-based approach to direct stem cell neural and cardiovascular differentiation: an analysis of physical and biochemical effects.

Although stem cell therapy holds tremendous promise in tissue regeneration and disease treatment, its full potential may only be realized through the thorough understanding and capability in specifically directing stem cell fate commitment. A scaffold-based approach of imparting physical and biochemical cues appears to be a logical method in reconstructing the complex three-dimensional configuration of stem cell niches. In fact, interest in this area has gained significant momentum over the recent years.