Figure 3.

Testing growth factor delivery from MCMs in situ.

Sciatic nerves were harvested from Lewis rats, dorsal root ganglion neurons labeled with Vybrant Dil were injected into the nerve and either saline, MCMs, or MCMs + NGF & GDNF were injected 10 mm distal to the injection of neurons (A). After injection, the nerves were cultured for 7 days, then fixed and sectioned longitudinally. When saline was injected there was minimal axon growth toward the injection (B). However when MCMs + NGF & GDNF was injected, the Vybrant red was observed significantly further distances toward the growth factor injection (C, D). n = 3; ***P < 0.001 (one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s post hoc test); Red = Vybrant Dil labeled neurons; blue = 2-(4-amidinophenyl)-1H -indole-6-carboxamidine (DAPI). Scale bar: 500 µm in B and D. Error bars represent ± SEM (C). GDNF: Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor; MCM: mineral coated microparticle; NGF: nerve growth factor.