Objectives: To evaluate the effects of the combination of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) and induced pluripotent stem cells-derived neural crest stem cells (iPSCs-NCSCs) on the regeneration of rat transected sciatic nerve in vivo.
Results: Tissue-engineered tubular nerve conduit was fabricated by electrospinning aligned nanofibers in longitudinal direction. This sustained the iPSCs-NCSCs and could be used as a bridge in rat transected sciatic nerve. Treatment with 0.3 W cm(-2) LIPUS for 2 weeks and 5 min per day significantly improved the sciatic functional index, static sciatic function index and nerve conduction velocity of rat sciatic nerve. Histological analysis showed that there were more regenerative new blood vessels and new neurofilaments, higher expression level of β-III tubulin (Tuj1) in the experimental group seeded with iPSCs-NCSCs and stimulated with LIPUS.
Conclusion: Combination of LIPUS with iPSCs-NCSCs promoted the regeneration and reconstruction of rat transected sciatic nerve and is an efficient and cost-effective method for peripheral nerve regeneration.
Keywords: Induced pluripotent stem cells; Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound; Nerve regeneration; Sciatic nerve repair.