Cell-free 3D scaffold with two-stage delivery of miRNA-26a to regenerate critical-sized bone defects.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 26765931.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/ncomms10376 and PMC identifier 4735608.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are being developed to enhance tissue regeneration. Here we show that a hyperbranched polymer with high miRNA-binding affinity and negligible cytotoxicity can self-assemble into nano-sized polyplexes with a 'double-shell' miRNA distribution and high transfection efficiency. These polyplexes are encapsulated in biodegradable microspheres to enable controllable two-stage (polyplexes and miRNA) delivery. The microspheres are attached to cell-free nanofibrous polymer scaffolds that spatially control the release of miR-26a. This technology is used to regenerate critical-sized bone defects in osteoporotic mice by targeting Gsk-3β to activate the osteoblastic activity of endogenous stem cells, thus addressing a critical challenge in regenerative medicine of achieving cell-free scaffold-based miRNA therapy for tissue engineering.
Medical subject headings
- Guided Tissue Regeneration
- MicroRNAs
- Osteoporosis
- Polymers
- Tissue Scaffolds