Development and in vitro evaluation of biomimetic injectable hydrogels from decellularized human nerves for central nervous system regeneration

Injuries to the central nervous system (CNS) often lead to persistent inflammation and limited regeneration. This study developed a clinically relevant injectable hydrogel derived from decellularized human peripheral nerves, with mechanical properties biomimicking native CNS tissue. Using a modified...

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Main Authors: Gopal Agarwal, Kennedy Moes, Christine E. Schmidt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Materials Today Bio
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006425000419
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author Gopal Agarwal
Kennedy Moes
Christine E. Schmidt
author_facet Gopal Agarwal
Kennedy Moes
Christine E. Schmidt
author_sort Gopal Agarwal
collection DOAJ
description Injuries to the central nervous system (CNS) often lead to persistent inflammation and limited regeneration. This study developed a clinically relevant injectable hydrogel derived from decellularized human peripheral nerves, with mechanical properties biomimicking native CNS tissue. Using a modified Hudson method, human sciatic nerves were decellularized, effectively removing immunogenic cellular debris while retaining the extracellular matrix. Two delipidation solvents, dichloromethane: ethanol (2:1 v/v) and n-hexane: isopropanol (3:1 v/v), were evaluated, with the former achieving optimal lipid removal and better digestion. The resulting solution was crosslinked with genipin, forming an injectable hydrogel (iHPN) that gelled within 12 min at 37 °C and exhibited mechanical stiffness of approximately 400 Pa. Human astrocytes, human microglial cell clone 3 (HMC3), and mouse RAW 264.7 macrophages were cultured individually within iHPN, with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) added to mimic CNS inflammation following injury. Compared to LPS-activated cells on tissue culture plates (TCP), astrocytes within iHPN maintained a quiescent state, as evidenced by reduced GFAP expression and IL-1β secretion. RAW 264.7 and HMC3 cells in iHPN displayed an anti-inflammatory phenotype, as shown by increased CD206 and decreased CD86/CD68 expression, along with higher IL-4 and lower TNF-α/IL-1β secretion. Human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells exhibited higher viability and improved neuronal differentiation in iHPN compared to TCP. Human brain neurons had higher neuronal differentiation within iHPN compared to TCP or collagen hydrogels. Overall, iHPN is a novel injectable hydrogel that has potential for minimally invasive CNS applications, such as a carrier for cell or drug delivery and/or a biomaterial to support axonal growth.
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spelling doaj-art-0c611f2c1fae45a2a2ba67796259d6e32025-01-19T06:26:33ZengElsevierMaterials Today Bio2590-00642025-04-0131101483Development and in vitro evaluation of biomimetic injectable hydrogels from decellularized human nerves for central nervous system regenerationGopal Agarwal0Kennedy Moes1Christine E. Schmidt2J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USAJ. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USACorresponding author. J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.; J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USAInjuries to the central nervous system (CNS) often lead to persistent inflammation and limited regeneration. This study developed a clinically relevant injectable hydrogel derived from decellularized human peripheral nerves, with mechanical properties biomimicking native CNS tissue. Using a modified Hudson method, human sciatic nerves were decellularized, effectively removing immunogenic cellular debris while retaining the extracellular matrix. Two delipidation solvents, dichloromethane: ethanol (2:1 v/v) and n-hexane: isopropanol (3:1 v/v), were evaluated, with the former achieving optimal lipid removal and better digestion. The resulting solution was crosslinked with genipin, forming an injectable hydrogel (iHPN) that gelled within 12 min at 37 °C and exhibited mechanical stiffness of approximately 400 Pa. Human astrocytes, human microglial cell clone 3 (HMC3), and mouse RAW 264.7 macrophages were cultured individually within iHPN, with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) added to mimic CNS inflammation following injury. Compared to LPS-activated cells on tissue culture plates (TCP), astrocytes within iHPN maintained a quiescent state, as evidenced by reduced GFAP expression and IL-1β secretion. RAW 264.7 and HMC3 cells in iHPN displayed an anti-inflammatory phenotype, as shown by increased CD206 and decreased CD86/CD68 expression, along with higher IL-4 and lower TNF-α/IL-1β secretion. Human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells exhibited higher viability and improved neuronal differentiation in iHPN compared to TCP. Human brain neurons had higher neuronal differentiation within iHPN compared to TCP or collagen hydrogels. Overall, iHPN is a novel injectable hydrogel that has potential for minimally invasive CNS applications, such as a carrier for cell or drug delivery and/or a biomaterial to support axonal growth.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006425000419Injectable hydrogelNatural biomaterialsHuman peripheral nervesDecellularizationDelipidationNeural tissue regeneration
spellingShingle Gopal Agarwal
Kennedy Moes
Christine E. Schmidt
Development and in vitro evaluation of biomimetic injectable hydrogels from decellularized human nerves for central nervous system regeneration
Materials Today Bio
Injectable hydrogel
Natural biomaterials
Human peripheral nerves
Decellularization
Delipidation
Neural tissue regeneration
title Development and in vitro evaluation of biomimetic injectable hydrogels from decellularized human nerves for central nervous system regeneration
title_full Development and in vitro evaluation of biomimetic injectable hydrogels from decellularized human nerves for central nervous system regeneration
title_fullStr Development and in vitro evaluation of biomimetic injectable hydrogels from decellularized human nerves for central nervous system regeneration
title_full_unstemmed Development and in vitro evaluation of biomimetic injectable hydrogels from decellularized human nerves for central nervous system regeneration
title_short Development and in vitro evaluation of biomimetic injectable hydrogels from decellularized human nerves for central nervous system regeneration
title_sort development and in vitro evaluation of biomimetic injectable hydrogels from decellularized human nerves for central nervous system regeneration
topic Injectable hydrogel
Natural biomaterials
Human peripheral nerves
Decellularization
Delipidation
Neural tissue regeneration
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006425000419
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AT kennedymoes developmentandinvitroevaluationofbiomimeticinjectablehydrogelsfromdecellularizedhumannervesforcentralnervoussystemregeneration
AT christineeschmidt developmentandinvitroevaluationofbiomimeticinjectablehydrogelsfromdecellularizedhumannervesforcentralnervoussystemregeneration