Implantable patches assembled with mesenchymal stem cells and gelatin/silk fibroin composite microspheres for the treatment of traumatic optic neuropathy

Abstract The therapeutic benefits of transplanting mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to the injury site of traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) represents a crucial, yet unresolved question, the answer to which may facilitate development of innovative therapies for TON, a frustrating disease with no effective treatment. Herein, we address this issue by showing that MSC transplantation to the injury site is able to promote optic nerve regeneration in terms of retinal ganglion cell survival and axon regeneration using MSC@MS, implantable patches assembled with MSCs and gelatin/silk fibroin composite microspheres, which integrate 3D culture and trypsin-free harvesting, and can increase in vivo retention of transplanted MSCs. In contrast, conventional bolus injection of MSC suspension is not potent enough to produce significant benefits. We also show MSCs in MSC@MS demonstrate superior gene expression profiles over monolayer culture after IGF-1 stimulation. In future study, microspheres in MSC@MS can further be harnessed to deliver therapeutic cargoes that boost the potency of MSCs or treat TON synergistically with MSCs, making MSC@MS a versatile platform to develop tailored MSC-based therapies for TON.