Poly(trimethylene carbonate-co-ε-caprolactone) promotes axonal growth

PLoS One. 2014 Feb 27;9(2):e88593. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088593. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Mammalian central nervous system (CNS) neurons do not regenerate after injury due to the inhibitory environment formed by the glial scar, largely constituted by myelin debris. The use of biomaterials to bridge the lesion area and the creation of an environment favoring axonal regeneration is an appealing approach, currently under investigation. This work aimed at assessing the suitability of three candidate polymers - poly(ε-caprolactone), poly(trimethylene carbonate-co-ε-caprolactone) (P(TMC-CL)) (11∶89 mol%) and poly(trimethylene carbonate) - with the final goal of using these materials in the development of conduits to promote spinal cord regeneration. Poly(L-lysine) (PLL) coated polymeric films were tested for neuronal cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth. At similar PLL film area coverage conditions, neuronal polarization and axonal elongation was significantly higher on P(TMC-CL) films. Furthermore, cortical neurons cultured on P(TMC-CL) were able to extend neurites even when seeded onto myelin. This effect was found to be mediated by the glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) signaling pathway with impact on the collapsin response mediator protein 4 (CRMP4), suggesting that besides surface topography, nanomechanical properties were implicated in this process. The obtained results indicate P(TMC-CL) as a promising material for CNS regenerative applications as it promotes axonal growth, overcoming myelin inhibition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axons / drug effects*
  • Axons / metabolism*
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cerebral Cortex / cytology
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism
  • Female
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Myelin Sheath / metabolism
  • Neurites / drug effects
  • Neurites / metabolism
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Polyesters / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • Polyesters
  • polycaprolactone
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Gsk3b protein, rat
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3

Grants and funding

This work was done with the financial support of the FEDER funds through the Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade – COMPETE and Portuguese funds through the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) (contracts HMSP-ICT/0020/2010 and PEst-C/SAU/LA0002/2011), as well as of the European Commission FP6 NEST Program (Contract 028473); as well as Daniela N. Rocha PhD scholarship (SFRH/BD/64079/2009). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.