Modern Concepts in Regenerative Therapy for Ischemic Stroke: From Stem Cells for Promoting Angiogenesis to 3D-Bioprinted Scaffolds Customized via Carotid Shear Stress Analysis

Int J Mol Sci. 2019 May 25;20(10):2574. doi: 10.3390/ijms20102574.

Abstract

Ischemic stroke is associated with a tremendous economic and societal burden, and only a few therapies are currently available for the treatment of this devastating disease. The main therapeutic approaches used nowadays for the treatment of ischemic brain injury aim to achieve reperfusion, neuroprotection and neurorecovery. Therapeutic angiogenesis also seems to represent a promising tool to improve the prognosis of cerebral ischemia. This review aims to present the modern concepts and the current status of regenerative therapy for ischemic stroke and discuss the main results of major clinical trials addressing the effectiveness of stem cell therapy for achieving neuroregeneration in ischemic stroke. At the same time, as a glimpse into the future, this article describes modern concepts for stroke prevention, such as the implantation of bioprinted scaffolds seeded with stem cells, whose 3D geometry is customized according to carotid shear stress.

Keywords: 3D-bioprinted scaffolds; endothelial shear stress; ischemic stroke; neuroprotection; neuroregeneration; regenerative therapy; stem cells.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Ischemia / therapy*
  • Carotid Arteries / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Nerve Regeneration
  • Printing, Three-Dimensional
  • Regenerative Medicine* / methods
  • Stem Cell Transplantation* / methods
  • Stroke / therapy*
  • Tissue Engineering / methods
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry