Photodynamic Therapy Mediated by Upconversion Nanoparticles to Reduce Glial Scar Formation and Promote Hindlimb Functional Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

Glial scar formation is one of the major consequences of spinal cord injury, which prevents the regenerated axons passing the injured area and forming effective synaptic connection. In this paper, we used photodynamic therapy (PDT), which was mediated by the upconversion nanoparticles coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and photosensitizer (UCNPs-PEG-M540), to reduce the glial scar formation after spinal cord injury. The in vitro experimental results indicated that cultured astrocytes could be killed by using upconversion nanoparticles after excitation with near infrared light. By transplanting UCNPs-PEG-M540 into the margin area of injured epicenter of spinal cord, the recovery of rat's hindlimb function was evaluated in Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan locomotor rating scale, respectively. The improvement in microenvironment of the injured spinal cord was also evaluated by glial fibrillary acidic protein staining, neurofiliment staining, biotinylated dextran amine anterograde tracing and western blotting. Our results demonstrated that more regenerative axons of corticospinal tract were found to surround and pass through the injured cavity to the caudal cord with transplanting UCNPs-PEG-M540 into the injured spinal cord. In conclusion, our results strongly suggested that upconversion nanoparticles combined with photodynamic therapy can promote functional recovery in rats' hindlimbs by reducing the formation of glial scar and promoting remyelination of injured axons.