An in vitro analysis of biomatrices for CNS tissue repair strategies: Chitosan supports adult neural precursor-derived cell viability, migration, differentiation and retinal explant neurite outgrowth

Neural stem and progenitor cells are promising for the treatment of CNS damage given their ability to differentiate into neurons and glia. But transplantation studies have been met with limited success due to several factors. including poor cell survival. Towards this end, four amine-functionalized hydrogels were screened in vitro for adult marine neural precursor-derived cell viability, migration and differentiation: chitosan, poly(oligoethylene oxide dimethacrylate-co-2-amino ethyl methacrylate). blends of poly(oligoethylene oxide dimethacrylate-co-2-amino ethyl methacrylate) and poly(vinyl alcohol), and poly(glycerol dimethacrylate-co-2-amino ethyl methacrylate). Total cell numbers and viability analyses on chitosan showed long-term viability in the absence of uncontrolled proliferation. Chitosan supported the differentiation of progenitors into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes and the survival of stem cells. Chitosan best supported cell migration and supported neurite outgrowth from CNS-derived neurons. Together, these findings reveal chitosan as a promising biomaterial for the delivery of adult neural precursor cells in developing cell-based therapies.