Neuroregenerative Potential of Three-Dimensional Nerve Guidance Conduits Functionalized with Schwann-like Cells Derived from Equine Mesenchymal Stem Cells

• Grant number: 24/19980-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Rogério Martins Amorim
• Grantee: Lucas Vinícius de Oliveira Ferreira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Peripheral nervous system (PNS) injuries are common clinical conditions in humans and animals, affecting the quality of life of affected patients. Equines are relevant as a translational model, as peripheral nerve injuries are common in the species, and the nerve size allows for more realistic data on nerve regeneration in humans. Although the PNS has regenerative capacity, mainly due to Schwann cells (SCs), the outcomes are often unsatisfactory. The clinical use of SCs is limited by the need to sacrifice a healthy donor nerve and the extended time required for culturing. Thus, several studies have explored mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) due to their ability to transdifferentiate into Schwann-like cells (SLCs). An in vitro approach using conditioned medium with secreted factors from peripheral nerve explants has shown to be efficient and requires less time in culture to induce transdifferentiation. Moreover, tissue engineering, especially 3D bioprinting, offers new possibilities for nerve regeneration, enabling the creation of customized scaffolds that, combined with SLCs, can create a more favorable environment for neuroregeneration. In this context, our objective is to develop 3D bioprinted nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) embedded with equine MSC-derived SLCs with neuroregenerative potential. The combination of bioprinted NGCs with equine SLCs represents a promising area for treating PNS injuries in equines, with results that may have translational potential for PNS injury treatment in humans.