Effect of Graphene Nanoribbons (TexasPEG) on locomotor function recovery in a rat model of lumbar spinal cord transection

• Published in: Neural regeneration research Vol. 13; no. 8; pp. 1440 - 1446
• Main Authors: Kim, C-Yoon, Sikkema, William, Kim, Jin, Kim, Jeong, Walter, James, Dieter, Raymond, Chung, Hyung-Min, Mana, Andrea, Tour, James, Canavero, Sergio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01-08-2018; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea%Department of Chemistry, Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, and The NanoCarbon Center, Rice University, Houston, TX,USA%Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea%Biomedical Omics Group, Korea Basic Science Institute, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, Korea%Research Service, Hines Veterans Administration Hospital, Hines, IL, USA%Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea%HEAVEN/GEMINI International Collaborative Group, Turin, Italy; Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Analysis; Care and treatment; Graphene; Health aspects; Nerve regeneration; nerve regeneration; spinal cord transfection; spinal cord fusion; GEMINI; TexasPEG; graphene nanoribbons; Rats; Spinal cord; Spinal cord injuries; Studies; nerve regeneration; TexasPEG; graphene nanoribbons; GEMINI; spinal cord fusion; spinal cord transfection
• ISSN: 1673-5374; 1876-7958
• DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.235301

A sharply transected spinal cord has been shown to be fused under the accelerating influence of membrane fusogens such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) (GEMINI protocol). Previous work provided evidence that this is in fact possible. Other fusogens might improve current results. In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of PEGylated graphene nanoribons (PEG-GNR, and called "TexasPEG" when prepared as 1wt% dispersion in PEG600) versus placebo (saline) on locomotor function recovery and cellular level in a rat model of spinal cord transection at lumbar segment 1 (L1) level. In vivo and in vitro experiments (n = 10 per experiment) were designed. In the in vivo experiment, all rats were submitted to full spinal cord transection at L1 level. Five weeks later, behavioral assessment was performed using the Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale. Immunohistochemical staining with neuron marker neurofilament 200 (NF200) antibody and astrocytic scar marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was also performed in the injured spinal cord. In the in vitro experiment, the effects of TexasPEG application for 72 hours on the neurite outgrowth of SH-SY5Y cells were observed under the inverted microscope. Results of both in vivo and in vitro experiments suggest that TexasPEG reduces the formation of glial scars, promotes the regeneration of neurites, and thereby contributes to the recovery of locomotor function of a rat model of spinal cord transfection.