Magnetic nanoparticles for magnetically guided therapies against neural diseases
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troduction A nerve in the peripheral nervous system is a cord-like structure that contains many axons. It includes neurons and nonneuronal Schwann cells that coat the axons in myelin. Myelin is an electrically insulating material and forms a sheath around the axon, which is fundamental for the proper conduction and transmission of electrochemical impulses, by insulating the axons from electrically charged atoms and molecules. Complete nerve injury (neurotmesis) results in the death of both distal axons and Schwann cells with consequent functional loss in innervated organs. In contrast to the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system has relevant regenerative capability, although complete functional recovery is rarely achieved. There are a large number of different cell types involved in the healing and regeneration of an injured nerve; for example, in a peripheral nerve lesion, the axon distal from the injury site degenerates, and Schwann cells and later macrophages clean
the neural tubes of cell debris and myelin, so-called Wallerian degeneration.1 When an injury occurs, a gap between the nerve’s damaged ends is produced, and surgical intervention is necessary. Nowadays, there are two main strategies for injuries with a long gap. In the first strategy, synthetic or biological conduits are sutured to each stump in order to target the distal end, avoiding scar tissue infiltration. A second approach to long gaps uses autologous nerve grafts (autografts) to provide a natural guidance channel populated with functioning Schwann cells, but this is challenging due to donor site collateral effects and patient condition.2,3 Because the axon regrows quite slowly (about 2–5 mm per day), it is extremely important to accelerate the regeneration time or to expand the time window of opportunity. To reach these goals, current experimental strategies include the usage of neurotrophins (proteins that regulate the development, maintenance, and function of neurons), growth
G.F. Goya, Institute of Nanoscience of Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain; [email protected] M.P. Calatayud, Institute of Nanoscience of Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain; [email protected] B. Sanz, Institute of Nanoscience of Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain; [email protected] M. Giannaccini, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Italy; [email protected] V. Raffa, Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Italy; [email protected] T.E. Torres, Institute of Nanoscience of Aragón and Laboratory of Advanced Microscopies, University of Zaragoza; [email protected] M.R. Ibarra, Institute of Nanoscience of Aragón and Laboratory of Advanced Microscopies, University of Zaragoza; [email protected] DOI: 10.1557/mrs.2014.224
© 2014 Materials Research Society
MRS BULLETIN • VOLUME 39 • NOVEMBER 2014 • www.mrs.org/bulletin
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MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES FOR MAGNETICALLY GUIDED THERAPIES AGAINST NEURAL DISEASES
factors, neurotransmitters, extracellular matrix proteins, and cell therapies mainly based on the use of Schwann cells and mesenchymal stem cells.4
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