Extracellular Nanomatrix-Induced Self-Organization of Neural Stem Cells into Miniature Substantia Nigra-Like Structures with Therapeutic Effects on Parkinsonian Rats.

ABSTRACT: Substantia nigra (SN) is a complex and critical region of the brain wherein Parkinson's disease (PD) arises from the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. Miniature SN-like structures (mini-SNLSs) constructed from novel combination of nanomaterials and cell technologies exhibit promise as potentially curative cell therapies for PD. In this work, a rapid self-organization of mini-SNLS, with an organizational structure and neuronal identities similar to those of the SN in vivo, is achieved by differentiating neural stem cells in vitro on biocompatible silica nanozigzags (NZs) sculptured by glancing angle deposition, without traditional chemical growth factors. The differentiated neurons exhibit electrophysiological activity in vitro. Diverse physical cues and signaling pathways that are dete

SUBMITTER: Zhang S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6918115 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature