Bioactive Peptide Hydrogel Scaffold with High Fluidity, Thermosensitivity, and Neurotropism in 3D Spatial Structure for Promoted Repair of Spinal Cord Injury

作者：Zhengang Sun, Xin Luan, Zhenjuan Sun, Dagang Li, Huiqiang Hu, Qing Xue, Bo Liu, Qianqian Yu, Gang Wei, Xuanfen Zhang, Yongming Xi · 发表于：Small · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1002/smll.202406990 · 被引用次数：18 · 研究领域：Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials、Nerve injury and regeneration、Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications

Abstract Spinal cord injury (SCI) has been considered a clinically challenging disease that is characterized by local disturbance of the microenvironment, which inhibits post‐injury neural regeneration. The simulation of a microenvironment conducive to the regeneration of spinal cord is beneficial for SCI repair. In this study, bioactive composite hydrogels are developed that mimic the regenerative microenvironment of spinal cord for enhanced SCI repair. The fabricated composite hydrogels (CRP) based on chitosan (CS), RADA 16 nanofibers, and nerve‐promoted peptide (PPFLMLLKGSTR) exhibit excellent injectability, superior biodegradability and biocompatibility. In addition, the CRP hydrogels can form quickly (a few minutes) by mixing three components at human body temperature, showing high potential as a biomimetic matrix for in situ repair of SCI. The in vitro studies demonstrate that the CRP hydrogels can not only promote the proliferation and migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells but also induce the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) into neurons. Meanwhile, the hydrogels reveal the efficiency of protecting neurons and promoting axonal growth. Furthermore, the in vivo tests prove that the CRP hydrogels can reduce post‐SCI inflammatory responses, inhibit reactive astrocyte over‐proliferation, and promote the migration, proliferation, and differentiation of endogenous NSCs, which agree well with the in vitro results. The pre‐clinical test de...