Browsing by Author "Saffari, Sara"

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    Combined local delivery of tacrolimus and stem cells in hydrogel for enhancing peripheral nerve regeneration
    (Wiley, 2021-07) Saffari, Tiam M.; Chan, Katelyn; Saffari, Sara; Zuo, Kevin J.; McGovern, Renee M.; Reid, Joel M.; Borschel, Gregory H.; Shin, Alexander Y.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    The application of scaffold-based stem cell transplantation to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration has great potential. Recently, the neuroregenerative potential of tacrolimus (a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved immunosuppressant) has been explored. In this study, a fibrin gel-based drug delivery system for sustained and localized tacrolimus release was combined with rat adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to investigate cell viability in vitro. Tacrolimus was encapsulated in poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) microspheres and suspended in fibrin hydrogel, using concentrations of 0.01 and 100 ng/ml. Drug release over time was measured. MSCs were cultured in drug-released media collected at various days to mimic systemic exposure. MSCs were combined with (i) hydrogel only, (ii) empty PLGA microspheres in the hydrogel, (iii) 0.01, and (iv) 100 ng/ml of tacrolimus PLGA microspheres in the hydrogel. Stem cell presence and viability were evaluated. A sustained release of 100 ng/ml tacrolimus microspheres was observed for up to 35 days. Stem cell presence was confirmed and cell viability was observed up to 7 days, with no significant differences between groups. This study suggests that combined delivery of 100 ng/ml tacrolimus and MSCs in fibrin hydrogel does not result in cytotoxic effects and could be used to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration.
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    Mesenchymal stem cells and local tacrolimus delivery synergistically enhance neurite extension
    (Wiley, 2021) Saffari, Sara; Saffari, Tiam M.; Chan, Katelyn; Borschel, Gregory H.; Shin, Alexander Y.; Surgery, School of Medicine
    Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and local delivery of tacrolimus (FK506) on nerve regeneration when applied to nerve autografts and decellularized allografts. Methods: A three-dimensional in vitro compartmented cell culture system consisting of a neonatal dorsal root ganglion adjacent to a nerve graft was used to evaluate the regenerating neurites into the peripheral nerve scaffold. Nerve autografts and allografts were treated with (i) undifferentiated MSCs, (ii) FK506 (100 ng/mL) or (iii) both (N = 9/group). After 48 hours, neurite extension was measured to quantify nerve regeneration and stem cell viability was evaluated. Results: Stem cell viability was confirmed in all MSC-treated grafts. Neurite extension was superior in autografts treated with FK506, and MSCs and FK506 combined (p < 0.001 and p = 0.0001, respectively), and autografts treated with MSCs (p = 0.12) were comparable to untreated autografts. In allografts, FK506 treatment and combined treatment were superior to controls (p < 0.001 and p = 0.0001, respectively), and treatment with MSCs (p = 0.09) was comparable to controls. All autograft groups were superior compared to their respective allograft treatment group (p < 0.05) in neurite extension. Conclusions: Alone, either MSC or FK506 treatment improved neurite outgrowth, and combined they further enhanced neurite extension in both autografts and allografts.
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    QS5: The Effect of Stem Cells and Local Tacrolimus on Neurite Extension
    (Wolters Kluwer, 2021) Saffari, Sara; Saffari, Tiam M.; Chan, Katelyn; Borschel, Gregory H.; Shin, Alexander Y.; Surgery, School of Medicine
    Purpose: Application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or tacrolimus (FK506), an FDA approved immunosuppressant, to nerve grafts has been a topic of interest to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effect of MSCs and local delivery of FK506 on nerve regeneration when applied to nerve autografts and decellularized nerve allografts. Methods: A three-dimensional (3D) in vitro compartmented cell culture system, validated by Tajdaran et al (2019), consisted of rat neonatal dorsal root ganglion (DRG) adjacent to rat nerve autograft or decellularized allograft. This model was used to evaluate regenerating neurites from the DRG into the peripheral nerve scaffold. Nerve autografts and decellularized allografts were augmented with (i) dynamic undifferentiated MSC seeding, (ii) local application of FK506 (100 ng/mL) or (iii) both (N=9/group). Local application was ensured by isolating the central system (i.e. DRG side) from the peripheral system (i.e. nerve graft side), where treatment was applied. After 48-hours of incubation, DRG-nerve graft constructs were collected, fixed, sectioned and stained against neurofilament-160 to measure neurite extension. CD90 staining was used to confirm stem cell characterization. Results: All grafts treated with MSCs confirmed CD90 expression. Compared to untreated autografts, neurite extension in autografts treated with FK506 and autografts treated with MSCs and FK506 combined were found superior (P<0.001 and P=0.0001, respectively), and comparable to autografts treated with MSCs (P=0.12). Compared to untreated allografts, allografts treated with FK506, and allografts treated with MSCs and FK506 were found superior (P<0.001 and P=0.0001, respectively), and allografts treated with MSCs were found comparable (P=0.09). All autograft groups were found superior compared to their respective allograft treatment group (P<0.05). Solely allografts receiving combined treatment were found superior to untreated autografts (P<0.05). Conclusion: MSCs or FK506 treatment improved neurite outgrowth and when combined, this resulted in significant synergistic neurite extension in both autografts and allografts in comparable patterns. Schematic overview of 3D compartmented cell culture system for isolated evaluation of treatment with MSCs and local FK506 in vitro. A 3.5 mm autograft or allograft with or without undifferentiated MSC seeding is attached to a DRG. DRG-nerve graft constructs are placed through a silicone isolator in the middle of a 24-wells plate to isolate the DRG from the nerve graft. FK506 containing media was added to the nerve graft side.