Chitosan Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles to Provide Neural Regeneration and Recovery after Experimental Model Induced Peripheral Nerve Injury.

Nadina Liana Pop,Alexandrina Nan,Andrada Elena Urda-Cimpean,Vlad Alexandru Toma,Vlad Alexandru Toma,Adrian Florea,Daniela Rodica Mitrea,Remus Orasan,Nicoleta Decea,Remus Moldovan

doi:10.3390/biom11050676

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.

Highlights

The latest research focused on studying iron oxide nanoparticles, especially in the field of cancer therapy, and we considered that expansion of the subject area would provide a wider knowledge of promising future medical applications
The serum nerve growth factor (NGF) levels were statistically significant between the groups, the NGF levels in the treated group indicated not statistically significant between the groups, the NGF levels in the treated group indithat CMNPs can stimulate the release of NGF and may contribute to peripheral nerve cated that CMNPs can stimulate the release of NGF and may contribute to peripheral regeneration
The animals treated with CMNPs had a good functional recovery after periphOverall, the animals treated with CMNPs had a good functional recovery after peeral nerve injury, whereas the control group presented poor functional rehabilitation or ripheral nerve injury, whereas the control group presented poor functional rehabilitation motor deficit at the end of the experiment

Summary

Introduction

Biomolecules 2021, 11, 676 specific treatment has been recognized as proper for peripheral nerve injuries. Surgery is not possible due to the patient’s disapproval, the nature and localization of the nerve lesion, or too much time lapsed from the nerve injury occurrence [2]. In these cases, a conservative treatment is initiated, which mainly includes a combination between medication and a rehabilitation program. Finding a treatment aiming peripheral nerve regeneration and pain relief, which would provide a reduced rehabilitation period of time represents a necessity

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