Open AccessEffect of Graphene Nanoribbons (TexasPEG) on locomotor function recovery in a rat model of lumbar spinal cord transection
Author(s) -
CYoon Kim,
William K.A. Sikkema,
Jin Kim,
Jeong Ah Kim,
James S. Walter,
Raymond A. Dieter,
Hyung-Min Chung,
Andrea Mana,
James M. Tour,
Sergio Canavero
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
neural regeneration research/neural regeneration research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.93
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1876-7958
pISSN - 1673-5374
DOI - 10.4103/1673-5374.235301
Subject(s) - spinal cord , glial fibrillary acidic protein , neurite , in vivo , spinal cord injury , neurofilament , lumbar , medicine , lumbar spinal cord , anatomy , neuroscience , pathology , chemistry , in vitro , biology , immunohistochemistry , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology
A sharply transected spinal cord has been shown to be fused under the accelerating influence of membrane fusogens such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) (GEMINI protocol). Previous work provided evidence that this is in fact possible. Other fusogens might improve current results. In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of PEGylated graphene nanoribons (PEG-GNR, and called "TexasPEG" when prepared as 1wt% dispersion in PEG600) versus placebo (saline) on locomotor function recovery and cellular level in a rat model of spinal cord transection at lumbar segment 1 (L 1 ) level. In vivo and in vitro experiments (n = 10 per experiment) were designed. In the in vivo experiment, all rats were submitted to full spinal cord transection at L 1 level. Five weeks later, behavioral assessment was performed using the Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale. Immunohistochemical staining with neuron marker neurofilament 200 (NF200) antibody and astrocytic scar marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was also performed in the injured spinal cord. In the in vitro experiment, the effects of TexasPEG application for 72 hours on the neurite outgrowth of SH-SY5Y cells were observed under the inverted microscope. Results of both in vivo and in vitro experiments suggest that TexasPEG reduces the formation of glial scars, promotes the regeneration of neurites, and thereby contributes to the recovery of locomotor function of a rat model of spinal cord transfection.