Nanomedicine Directs Neuronal Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells via Silencing Long Noncoding RNA for Stroke Therapy

Transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) is a promising treatment paradigm to replace lost neurons and reconstruct the damaged neural circuit after ischemic stroke. However, most transplanted NSCs often differentiate into astrocytes rather than functional neurons, and the poor neuronal differentiation adversely affects the therapeutic outcome of NSCs and limits their clinical translation for stroke therapy. Herein, a theranostic nanomedicine is developed to codeliver super-paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO) and small interfering RNA/antisense oligonucleotides (siRNA/ASO) against Pnky long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) into NSCs. This nano-medicine not only directs neuronal differentiation of NSCs through silencing the Pnky lncRNA but also allows an in vivo tracking of NSCs significantly improved the with magnetic resonance imaging. The enhanced neuronal differentiation of NSCs structural and functional recovery of the damaged brain after a stroke. The results demonstrate the great potential of the multifunctional nanomedicine targeting lncRNA to enhance stem cell-based therapies for a stroke.

Automated summary

A theranostic nanomedicine has been developed to co-deliver super-paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO) and small interfering RNA/antisense oligonucleotides (siRNA/ASO) targeting Pnky long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) into neural stem cells (NSCs). This nanomedicine promotes neuronal differentiation of NSCs by silencing the Pnky lncRNA, while also enabling in vivo tracking of NSCs with improved magnetic resonance imaging. The enhanced neuronal differentiation of NSCs leads to structural and functional recovery of the damaged brain after a stroke, demonstrating potential for enhancing stem cell-based therapies for stroke.