Combined polymer-curcumin conjugate and ependymal progenitor/stem cell treatment enhances spinal cord injury functional recovery

Autores de CIPF

• Ana Alastrue Agudo

  Autor

• Eric López Mocholi

  Autor

• 

  Maria Jesus Vicent Docon

  Autor

• 

  M Victoria Moreno Manzano

  Autor

Participantes ajenos a CIPF

• Requejo-Aguilar, R
• Cases-Villar, M
• England, R

Grupos de Investigación

• Laboratorio de Polímeros Terapéuticos

  

  Jefe/a de Grupo

  Maria Jesus Vicent Docon

• Laboratorio de Regeneración Tisular y Neuronal

  

  Jefe/a de Grupo

  M Victoria Moreno Manzano

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) suffers from a lack of effective therapeutic strategies. Animal models of acute SCI have provided evidence that transplantation of ependymal stem/progenitor cells of the spinal cord (epSPCs) induces functional recovery, while systemic administration of the anti-inflammatory curcumin provides neuroprotection. However, functional recovery from chronic stage SCI requires additional enhancements in available therapeutic strategies. Herein, we report on a combination treatment for SCI using epSPCs and a pH-responsive polymer-curcumin conjugate. The incorporation of curcumin in a pH-responsive polymeric carrier mainchain, a polyacetal (PA), enhances blood bioavailability, stability, and provides a means for highly localized delivery. We find that PA-curcumin enhances neuroprotection, increases axonal growth, and can improve functional recovery in acute SCI. However, when combined with epSPCs, PA-curcumin also enhances functional recovery in a rodent model of chronic SCI. This suggests that combination therapy may be an exciting new therapeutic option for the treatment of chronic SCI in humans. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

• Curcumin; Polymer Therapeutics; Spinal cord injury; Ependymal progenitor stem cells; Rho kinase