Enhanced Therapeutic Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes with an Injectable Hydrogel for Hindlimb Ischemia Treatment.

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes have been recognized as new candidates for cell-free treatment of various diseases. However, maintaining the retention and stability of exosomes over time in vivo after transplantation is a major challenge in the clinical application of MSC-derived exosomes. Here, we investigated if human placenta-derived MSC-derived exosomes incorporated with chitosan hydrogel could boost the retention and stability of exosomes and further enhance their therapeutic effects. Our results demonstrated that chitosan hydrogel notably increased the stability of proteins and microRNAs in exosomes, as well as augmented the retention of exosomes in vivo as confirmed by Gaussia luciferase imaging. In addition, we assessed endothelium-protective and proangiogenesis abilities of hydrogel-incorporated exosomes in vitro. Meanwhile, we evaluated the therapeutic function of hydrogel-incorporated exosomes in a murine model of hindlimb ischemia. Our data demonstrated that chitosan hydrogel could enhance the retention and stability of exosomes and further augment the therapeutic effects for hindlimb ischemia as revealed by firefly luciferase imaging of angiogenesis. The strategy used in this study may facilitate the development of easy and effective approaches for assessing and enhancing the therapeutic effects of stem cell-derived exosomes.

• Authors: Kaiyue Zhang, Xiangnan Zhao, Xiaoniao Chen, Yongzhen Wei, Wei Du, Yuebing Wang, Linan Liu, Weian Zhao, Zhibo Han, Deling Kong, Qiang Zhao, Zhikun Guo, Zhongchao Han, Na Liu, Fengxia Ma, Zongjin Li
• Journal: ACS applied materials & interfaces (ACS Appl Mater Interfaces) Vol. 10 Issue 36 Pg. 30081-30091 (Sep 12 2018) ISSN: 1944-8252 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 30118197 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Hydrogels

Topics

• Animals
• Exosomes (chemistry, transplantation)
• Hindlimb (drug effects, pathology)
• Hydrogels (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Ischemia (drug therapy, therapy)
• Mesenchymal Stem Cells (metabolism)
• Mice
• Neovascularization, Physiologic (drug effects)