Nadina Liana Pop1, Alexandrina Nan2, Andrada Elena Urda-Cimpean3, Adrian Florea4, Vlad Alexandru Toma5,6, Remus Moldovan1, Nicoleta Decea1, Daniela Rodica Mitrea1, Remus Orasan1. 1. Department of Physiology, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Clinicilor Street No. 1-3, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania. 2. National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, Donath Street No. 67-103, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania. 3. Department of Informatics and Biostatistics, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Pasteur Street No. 4-6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania. 4. Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Pasteur Street No. 4-6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania. 5. Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, Babeș-Bolyai University, Clinicilor Street No. 4-6, 400000 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania. 6. Institute of Biological Research, Republicii Street No. 48, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania.
Abstract
(1) Background: Peripheral nerve injuries have a great impact on a patient's quality of life and a generally poor outcome regarding functional recovery. Lately, studies have focused on different types of nanoparticles and various natural substances for the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries. This is the case of chitosan, a natural compound from the crustaceans' exoskeleton. The present study proposes to combine chitosan benefic properties to the nanoparticles' ability to transport different substances to specific locations and evaluate the effects of magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with chitosan (CMNPs) on peripheral nerve injuries' rehabilitation by using an in vivo experimental model. (2) Methods: CMNPs treatment was administrated daily, orally, for 21 days to rats subjected to right sciatic nerve lesion and compared to the control group (no treatment) by analyzing the sciatic functional index, pain level, body weight, serum nerve growth factor levels and histology, TEM and EDX analysis at different times during the study. (3) Results: Animals treated with CMNPs had a statistically significant functional outcome compared to the control group regarding: sciatic functional index, pain-like behavior, total body weight, which were confirmed by the histological and TEM images. (4) Conclusions: The results of the study suggest that CMNPs appear to be a promising treatment method for peripheral nerve injuries.
(1) Background: Peripheral nerve injuries have a great impact on a patient's quality of life and a generally poor outcome regarding functional recovery. Lately, studies have focused on different types of nanoparticles and various natural substances for the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries. This is the case of chitosan, a natural compound from the crustaceans' exoskeleton. The present study proposes to combine chitosan benefic properties to the nanoparticles' ability to transport different substances to specific locations and evaluate the effects of magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with chitosan (CMNPs) on peripheral nerve injuries' rehabilitation by using an in vivo experimental model. (2) Methods:CMNPs treatment was administrated daily, orally, for 21 days to rats subjected to right sciatic nerve lesion and compared to the control group (no treatment) by analyzing the sciatic functional index, pain level, body weight, serum nerve growth factor levels and histology, TEM and EDX analysis at different times during the study. (3) Results: Animals treated with CMNPs had a statistically significant functional outcome compared to the control group regarding: sciatic functional index, pain-like behavior, total body weight, which were confirmed by the histological and TEM images. (4) Conclusions: The results of the study suggest that CMNPs appear to be a promising treatment method for peripheral nerve injuries.
Entities:
Keywords:
chitosan magnetic nanoparticles; functional rehabilitation; peripheral nerve injury; sciatic functional index
Authors: Yookyung Jung; Joanna H Ng; Cameron P Keating; Prabhu Senthil-Kumar; Jie Zhao; Mark A Randolph; Jonathan M Winograd; Conor L Evans Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-04-08 Impact factor: 3.240