In vivo assessment of guided neural stem cell differentiation in growth factor immobilized hydrogel scaffolds

摘要

These results demonstrate that neural stem cells can be guided in defined scaffold volumes to differentiate into neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes with immobilized signaling molecules over long periods in vivo. Immobilization of whole signaling proteins provided superior results to soluble administration. Now that safety has been demonstrated we are now applying our treatments as spinal cord bridges in SCI rats, and are especially interested in tethered IFN-γ and its developmental potential for CNS regeneration.