Engineering Biomaterial Microenvironments to Promote Myelination in the Central Nervous System.

Engineering Biomaterial Microenvironments to Promote Myelination in the Central Nervous System. Brain Res Bull. 2019 Jul 12;: Authors: Unal DB, Caliari SR, Lampe KJ Abstract Promoting remyelination and/or minimizing demyelination are key therapeutic strategies under investigation for diseases and injuries from multiple sclerosis (MS) to spinal cord injury, stroke, and virus-induced encephalopathy. Myelination is essential for efficacious neuronal signaling. This process is originated by oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) in the central nervous system (CNS). Resident OPCs are capable of both proliferation and differentiation, and also migration to demyelinated injury sites. OPCs can then engage with these demyelinated axons and differentiate into myelin-forming oligodendrocytes (OLs). However this process is frequently incomplete and often does not occur at all. Biomaterial strategies can now be used to guide OPC and OL development with the goal of regenerating healthy myelin sheaths in formerly damaged CNS tissue. Growth and neurotrophic factors delivered from such materials can promote proliferation of OPCs or differentiation into OLs. While cell transplantation techniques have been used to replace damaged cells in wound sites, they have also led to poor viability, uncontrollable differentiation, and poor integration into the host. Biomaterial scaffolds made from extracellular matrix (ECM) mimics that are naturally or synthetic...
Source: Brain Research Bulletin - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Brain Res Bull Source Type: research