Institute of Fundamental Technological Research

Introduction:
Introduction of nanotechnology into medicine has provided new therapeutic options. It has been demonstrated that implantation of nanofiber mats after nervous system injury allowed to diminish scar size and infl ammatory reaction. It is also possible that, due to their ability to release active factors, nanofiber mats may replace intracerebral probes. To assess potential usefulness of nanofiber mats in releasing active substances we implanted them into the spinal cord subarachnoid space in adult Wistar rats.

Material and Method:
The experimental animals were divided into four groups: group 1 – rats with implanted nanofiber mats, group 2 – rats with implanted nanofiber mats releasing glutamate, group 3 – rats with nanofiber mats releasing glutamate and treated orally by sodium valproate, and group 4 – control animals without nanofiber mats. The animals were killed 21 days after the mats implantation. Then, histopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural evaluation of the spinal cords was performed.

Results:
Morphological assessment revealed that implantation of nanofi ber mats caused neither spinal cord damage nor inflammation (group 1). Also nanofi ber mats releasing glutamate did not produce inflammatory reaction (group 2 and 3) although in group 2 morphological changes indicating toxic influence of glutamate were observed. These changes were less severe in group 3.

Conclusions:
(1) Nanofi ber mats are biocompatible and can be useful in long-term animal experiments. (2) Nanofi ber mats are able to release glutamate into the subarachnoid space. (3) Sodium valproate has a protective influence against glutamate toxicity.

electrospinning, nanofibers, drug delivery, neurology, sodium glutamate, animal model