POS8-1301
A Multilayered 3D Bioprinted Scaffold with Engineered Extracellular Vesicles for Microenvironment Remodeling and Functional Recovery Following Severe Spinal Cord Injury
Topic
S8. Frontiers of Functional Polymers in Biology and Medicine
When and Where
Oct 1, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Jinkee HONG
Ki Su KIM
Presenter(s)
Duck Hyun Song (Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, South Korea)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a devastating neurological disorder characterized by extensive neuronal loss, persistent inflammation, local acidosis, glial scar formation, and the limited regenerative capacity of the central nervous system. Because these pathological processes collectively impede endogenous repair, effective therapeutic strategies should simultaneously remodel the injury microenvironment and provide sustained regenerative cues.
In this study, we developed a multilayered 3D bioprinted scaffold integrating biomaterials, neural progenitor cells (NPCs), and engineered extracellular vesicles (EVs) for spinal cord regeneration. The construct comprises an NPC-laden GelMA hydrogel layer that bridges the lesion cavity and supports neuronal survival, and a magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)₂)-functionalized PLGA layer that alleviates local acidosis and promotes a regenerative microenvironment. The scaffold further incorporates a dual-EV platform consisting of SDF-1-overexpressing tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cell EVs to enhance endogenous cell recruitment and angiogenesis, together with neural stem cell-derived EVs to promote neuronal survival, axonal regeneration, and remyelination.
In vivo studies in a rat complete spinal cord transection model demonstrated that the scaffold significantly reduced glial scar formation while enhancing axonal regeneration and tissue remodeling. Furthermore, the integrated delivery of NPCs, engineered EVs, and pH-responsive biomaterials effectively modulated inflammation and significantly improved locomotor functional recovery compared with conventional scaffold systems.
Collectively, these findings demonstrate that this integrated bioprinted platform overcomes multiple pathological barriers after SCI through complementary regenerative mechanisms. This multimodal strategy represents a promising therapeutic platform for spinal cord regeneration with strong potential for future clinical translation.
In this study, we developed a multilayered 3D bioprinted scaffold integrating biomaterials, neural progenitor cells (NPCs), and engineered extracellular vesicles (EVs) for spinal cord regeneration. The construct comprises an NPC-laden GelMA hydrogel layer that bridges the lesion cavity and supports neuronal survival, and a magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)₂)-functionalized PLGA layer that alleviates local acidosis and promotes a regenerative microenvironment. The scaffold further incorporates a dual-EV platform consisting of SDF-1-overexpressing tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cell EVs to enhance endogenous cell recruitment and angiogenesis, together with neural stem cell-derived EVs to promote neuronal survival, axonal regeneration, and remyelination.
In vivo studies in a rat complete spinal cord transection model demonstrated that the scaffold significantly reduced glial scar formation while enhancing axonal regeneration and tissue remodeling. Furthermore, the integrated delivery of NPCs, engineered EVs, and pH-responsive biomaterials effectively modulated inflammation and significantly improved locomotor functional recovery compared with conventional scaffold systems.
Collectively, these findings demonstrate that this integrated bioprinted platform overcomes multiple pathological barriers after SCI through complementary regenerative mechanisms. This multimodal strategy represents a promising therapeutic platform for spinal cord regeneration with strong potential for future clinical translation.
