Effect of Graphene Nanoribbons (TexasPEG) on locomotor function recovery in a rat model of lumbar spinal cord transection

C-Yoon Kim , William K. A. Sikkema , Jin Kim Jeong Ah Kim, James Walter, Raymond Dieter, Hyung-Min ChungAndrea Mana, James M. Tour Sergio Canavero,

1 Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea

2 Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

3 Department of Chemistry, Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, and The NanoCarbon Center, Rice University, Houston, TX,USA

4 Biomedical Omics Group, Korea Basic Science Institute, Cheongju‐si, Chungbuk, Korea

5 Research Service, Hines Veterans Administration Hospital, Hines, IL, USA

6 HEAVEN/GEMINI International Collaborative Group, Turin, Italy

Abstract A sharply transected spinal cord has been shown to be fused under the accelerating in fluence of membrane fusogens such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) (GEMINI protocol). Previous work provided evidence that this is in fact possible. Other fusogens might improve current results. In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of PEGylated graphene nanoribons (PEG‐GNR, and called “TexasPEG” when prepared as 1wt% dispersion in PEG600) versus placebo (saline) on locomotor function recovery and cellular level in a rat model of spinal cord transection at lumbar segment 1 (L1) level. In vivo and in vitro experiments (n = 10 per experiment) were designed. In the in vivo experiment, all rats were submitted to full spinal cord transection at L1 level. Five weeks later, behavioral assessment was performed using the Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale. Immunohistochemical staining with neuron marker neuro filament 200 (NF200) antibody and astrocyt‐ic scar marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was also performed in the injured spinal cord. In the in vitro experiment, the effects of TexasPEG application for 72 hours on the neurite outgrowth of SH‐SY5Y cells were observed under the inverted microscope. Results of both in vivo and in vitro experiments suggest that TexasPEG reduces the formation of glial scars, promotes the regeneration of neurites, and thereby contributes to the recovery of locomotor function of a rat model of spinal cord transfection.

Key Words: nerve regeneration; spinal cord transfection; spinal cord fusion; GEMINI; TexasPEG; graphene nanoribbons

Introduction

Despite more than a century of intensive research, spinal cord injury (SCI) remains an incurable condition and often causes devastating sequelae. Although a host of experimental therapies have been deployed over the years, none has made it to the clinic, including stem cells (Silva et al., 2014; Kim et al., 2017b). The rationale for almost all attempts at reversing spinal injury has been to counteract the detrimental effects of necrosis, along with cysts and scars, by either allaying local inhibition or fostering regrowth of long axons in the damaged white matter. All these studies led to only limited available treatment. Progress has been made in the neurore‐habilitation setting, with the introduction of exoskeletons for low‐level spinal cord lesions and the resulting ambula‐tion assist (Miller et al., 2016). Brain‐computer interfaces are showing early promise, especially for high‐level spinal lesions (Lebedev and Nicolelis, 2017) and electrical spinal cord stimulation can activate motor programs in paraplegic patients (Minassian and Hofstoetter, 2016). However, none of these technologies can currently restore full, behaviorally effective sensorimotor function. The need for a biological cure remains imperative.

In 1963, US neurosurgeon Dr. Freeman proved that a sharply severed thoracic spinal cord can achieve motor recovery in rodents and dogs if enough time is permitted(months) and fiber regrowth was observed histologically(Freeman, 1963; Canavero et al., 2016). In light of these results, Dr. Freeman speculated that a dorsal injury leading to paraplegia could be cured if the injured segment was removed, along with a vertebrectomy (spinal shortening)or even multiple diskectomies, and the two freshly severed cord stumps approximated. In fact, when he carried out this procedure in animals, locomotor function was partially restored. For unclear reasons, this data went ignored by the spinal cord community at large (Canavero and Ren, 2016).Certainly, the interval of time necessary for this recovery,translated to the human subject, amounts to a few years.This was con firmed when two surgical groups removed the injured segment in two paraplegics and filled the gap with collagen or peripheral nerve bridges: partial motor function recovery was seen ＞ 1 year later (up to 4 years) (Goldsmith et al., 2005; Tabakow et al., 2014). This suggests that, if a method should be found whereby the fresh stumps of a cord submitted to cordectomy could be made to communicate electrophysiologically (i.e., spinal cord fusion), a cure for SCI could result. In fact, the vertebral column can be surgically shortened (by corporectomy or multiple diskectomies), and the two freshly severed cord stumps approximated. Still, the process must be accelerated to make it clinically practical.

In 2013, the GEMINI spinal cord fusion protocol was first described (Canavero, 2013). The aim is to fuse a sharply transected spinal cord and reverse the resulting motor de fi‐cit. The protocol recognizes that sensorimotor function in mammals is subserved by a cellular “highway” embedded in the gray matter of the spinal cord and that protecting the neurons that make up this pathway at the point of operative transection would foster sprouting of new neural connec‐tions between the stumps of the transected spinal cord (Ca‐navero et al., 2016). Special substances, classified as mem‐brane fusogens (e.g., poly(ethylene glycol), PEG), can acutely restore the integrity of sharply severed nerve fibers or seal the membrane of damaged neurons, reducing cell death in the spinal cord (Canavero et al., 2016; Ye et al., 2016). This effect requires topical application to be maximally effective.In 2016, proof‐of‐principle animal studies confirmed the feasibility of fusing a sharply transected, cervical (C5) or dor‐sal (T10) spinal cord with objective restoration of electrical transmission and recovery of ambulation, first in mice (Kim,2016; Ye et al., 2016; Kim et al., 2017a), then in rats (Kim et al., 2016c), and finally in a single dog (Kim et al., 2016b). An adequately powered, randomized, controlled study in rats later con firmed these initial findings (Ren et al., 2017). Motor function recovered in all these studies. On the other hand,parenteral administration of PEG has not proven particularly effective at reversing experimental contusive SCI, although in those studies PEG was administered within 24 hours of SCI(Laverty et al., 2004; Olby et al., 2016). While a human trial is certainly warranted, intravenous administration of PEG would be useless in the chronic setting.

We theorized that PEGylated graphene nanoribbons(PEG‐GNR) could reestablish anatomophysiological conti‐nuity of the transected spinal cord. TexasPEG is a mixture where the nanoribbons are diluted as a 1wt% dispersion in 600 Da PEG. TexasPEG has been shown to have favorable neuronal effects in SCI studies, as per the GEMINI protocol(Kim et al., 2016a). These nanoribbons are chemically mod‐ified with PEG chains emanating from their edges, yet the basal planes are pristine so they are highly electrically con‐ductive. We have shown these planes to stimulate neuronal growth on their surfaces and to be nontoxic (Sahni et al.,2013). TexasPEG may produce a microenvironment that is conducive to neuronal growth, providing a scaffold that can electro‐positionally inform the growth cones of neuronal processes, and facilitate reconnection of closely appositioned severed nerve fibers.

In order to test the fusogen administered directly to the cord in the clinic, animal evidence is required by regulatory bodies. Preliminary animal histologic analysis with PEG re‐vealed that the two approximated stumps of the transected spinal cord regrew nerve fibers across the interface, but the extent of regrowth was not quantified (Kim et al., 2017a).Moreover, the exact cellular mechanism of the recovery re‐mains unexplored.

Here, we aim to provide evidence that TexasPEG can restore motor function after complete L1spinal cord tran‐sections and immediate treatment. We also aim to elucidate the biological mechanism of recovery using immunohisto‐chemistry and in vitro studies. In our prior work, we tested both C5and T9complete sharp lesions of the spinal cord(Kim et al., 2016a; Ye et al., 2016). These high‐level spinal cord lesion sites are characterized by both caudal and rostral perfusion. In the current study, we created an L1lesion site which has the limitation of only rostral perfusion, a possible ischemia‐inducing hindrance to neuronal survival in the gray matter, which is critical for spinal fusion.

Materials and Methods

The PEG-GNRs (TexasPEG)

In this study, PEGylated graphene nanoribbons (TexasPEG)was used (see details on preparation and characterization in a previous study (Sikkema et al., 2017)). A brief description of the protocol and characterization are described in Figure 1.

Figure 1 Multiwalled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs) consist of concentric layers of carbon nanotubes.

In vivo assessment

Spinal cord transection and treatment

The experiment was carried out in accordance with animal ethics committee guidelines and was approved by the Insti‐tutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Konkuk University (approval No. KU15135). Female Sprague‐Dawley rats (Young bio, Seoul, Korea), weighing 250–280 g, were anesthetized using zoletil and xylazine (3:1 ratio, 1 mL/kg).Spinal laminectomy was performed at L1site. Briefly, the muscles overlying the vertebral column were cut open to ex‐pose the vertebral column T13–L2; the L1spine segment was carefully removed. After gently raising the spinal cord with a spinal cord hook (Fine Science Tools, Vancouver, Canada),severance was performed with surgical sharp blades #11; the gap was con firmed by passing the hook throughout. The an‐imals were randomly divided into two groups (control and TexasPEG,n=10 for each group) and treated with either 50 μL of PBS or TexasPEG respectively, directly applied on the severance site of the spinal cord. Then, the muscle and fascia were sutured and the skin was closed. Dextrose (2.5%)and 0.45% sodium chloride (20 mL/kg; Haflsol, Daehan,Seoul, Korea) was administered dailyviaa tail vein catheter.To confirm the disappearance of the motor improvement following spinal re‐transection, all groups of animals were re‐anesthetized and the L1site was incised after 5 weeks of behavioral analysis. The spinal cord at L1level was transect‐ed in the same manner as described above, and then sutured without any treatment.

Behavioral assessment

The Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale(Basso et al., 1995) was used to assess locomotor function recovery in an open field;i.e., with rats left to themselves to move and feed in a spacious pen. Two independent, blind‐ed observers evaluated the spinal cord sensory and motor function of the animals after spinal cord transection. Before testing, the animals’ bladders were expressed because spon‐taneous bladder contraction often accompanies hind limb activity. The rats were placed in an open field and were ob‐served for 5 minutes. Functional recovery was analyzed by measuring the BBB score twice a week. Functional recovery was analyzed twice a week for up to 5 weeks (+1 day).

Immunohistochemistry

All rats were sacri ficed at 5 weeks (+1 day) after operation.The spinal cord was isolated and fixed with 4% paraformal‐dehyde. During autopsy, the spinal cord above and below the level of injury was observed and the diameter was mea‐sured to determine if atrophy was present. Tissue samples were rinsed with PBS and stored in PBS with 30% sucrose overnight. Tissue samples were embedded in O.C.T. com‐pound (Sakura Finetek, Tokyo, Japan) media; 10 μm longi‐tudinal sections were obtained. The sections were incubated with primary antibodies anti‐neuro filament 200 (1:100; Sig‐ma, St. Louis, MO, USA) and anti‐glial fibrillary acidic pro‐tein (1:1000; Chemicon, Tenecula, CA, USA) for 72 hours at 4°C. The sections were then washed with PBS and incubated with Alexa 488 or 594 conjugated secondary antibody (Goat IgG, 1:1000; Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR, USA) for 1 hour at room temperature and mounted with 4′,6‐diamidi‐no‐2‐phenyindole (DAPI). Each evaluation proceeded at the interface and periphery of the injured spinal cord. In the pe‐riphery of the injured area, immunohistochemical staining with anti‐glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP; an astrocytic scar‐related marker) was performed in the gray matter, and immunohistochemical staining with anti‐neuro filament 200(NF200; neuron marker) in the white matter. For each sam‐ple, three images of the injured area were randomly selected.Images were acquired using a fluorescence microscope fit‐ted with a digital camera system (Nikon, Tokyo, Japan) for quantitative analyses using Adobe Photoshop CS5 (Adobe Systems, San Jose, CA, USA) software. Attention was given to ensure identical settings for fluorescence exposure, ampli‐fier gain and cut off across all images.

In vitroassessmentCell culture

SH‐SY5Y cells (KCLB, Seoul, Korea) were cultured and main‐tained in Dubelcco’s Modi fied Eagle Media (DMEM) Ham’s F‐12 (DMEM/F12) (Sigma‐Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA)supplemented with 15% heat inactivated fetal bovine serum(Sigma‐Aldrich) and 1% penicillin/streptomycin (Sigma‐Al‐drich). The cells were incubated at 37°C in a humidi fied in‐cubator containing 5% CO2. For differentiation of SH‐SY5Y cells, cells were treated with 10 μM all‐trans retinoic acid (RA)(Sigma‐Aldrich) with 5% fetal bovine serum in DMEM/F12 media. The retinoic acid was dissolved (10 mM) in dimethyl sulfoxide, and freshly diluted further in culture medium.

Fabrication of the micro fluidic device

A microfluidic device was fabricated with a poly(dimeth‐ylsiloxane) (PDMS) replica molding using a standard soft lithography from a patterned SU‐8 silicon wafer (Figure 2).Brie fly, SU‐8 photoresist (Microchem Corp., Newton, MA,USA) was spin‐coated at a thickness of about 200 μm on a Si wafer. After baking and rinsing, PDMS prepolymer mixed with a curing agent at a weight ratio of 10: 1 (Sylgard®184,Dow Corning Co., Midland, MI, USA) was poured onto the master and cured for 2 hours at 80°C. PDMS replica was peeled off from the master and an inlet and an outlet hole were punched out of the PDMS replica. After sterilization by autoclave, the PDMS layer was bonded onto a coverslip by an air plasma treatment (150 W, 50 seconds) to form a closed channel (Femto Science Inc., Covance, Korea). The single device has three rectangular microchannels, one for gel and two for media. The channel dimension for gel is 1.2 mm wide, 16 mm long and the media channel is 1 mm wide, 33 mm long, respectively. A single pair of reservoirs(6 mm in diameter) is shared at the end of the two media channels. Each hydrogel channel is de fined by a row of trap‐ezoid‐shaped posts that separate neighbouring channels.

3D culture and microscopic evaluation

To evaluate the effect of TexasPEG on neurite growth at thein vitrolevel, we developed a 3D culture using matrigel and microchips. Single SH‐SY5Y cells were suspended in Matri‐gel™/serum free DMEM (BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA)(1:1) at a concentration of 1 × 106cells/mL. For graphene treatment, TexasPEG was diluted in the mixture to a final concentration of 0.2%. The solution was then injected gently into an individual chamber of a microchip and allowed to solidify for 1 hour at 37°C in a humidified incubator con‐taining 5% CO2. Fifty microliter of differentiation media was added gently to each chamber and the media was changed twice a day. To assess neurite growth from SH‐SY5Y cells after 72 hours of incubation, phase contrast images at 200×magni fication were captured using a Zeiss inverted micro‐scope and Axiovision software (Carl Zeiss, Jena, Germany)for each group, and the mean neurite length of each single cell was calculated using ImageJ software (NIH, Bethesda,MD, USA) on at least 50 randomly selected cells. For the analysis, a neurite was de fined as a cell process greater than 20 μm, for branching neurites, only the longest branch was traced and only cells with the entire cell body and neurite in the field of view were included.

Statistics

Statistical analyses were conducted using the Statistical Analysis System software (SAS, version Enterprise 4.0; SAS Korea, Inc., Seoul, Korea), Data are presented as the mean± SEM. All statistics were calculated using independent samplest‐test or one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA)with the least signi ficant differences (LSD) test forpost hocanalysis. A value ofP＜ 0.05 was considered statistically signi ficant.

Results

Behavioral change of rats

BBB scores across 5 weeks were compared between Tex‐asPEG and control groups (Figure 3). BBB scores at 3–5 weeks in the TexasPEG group were signi ficantly higher than those in the control group (P＜ 0.05 orP＜ 0.01). Locomo‐tor function recovery in the control group plateaued after 1 week, while the TexasPEG group showed continuous resto‐ration of motor function for 5 weeks. To confirm whether the restored motor function was actually due to spinal cord regeneration, the spinal cord (L1) was re‐transected at the end of these 5 weeks. Paralysis was induced again in both groups (Figure 3). Interestingly, extensive atrophy of the lower part of the L1lesion was observed (Additional Figure 1). The spinal cord below the level of injury (caudal) showed an atrophic morphology. In contrast, the spinal cord above the level of injury (rostral) demonstrated no atrophy.

Scar formation and axonal regrowth

Scar formation and axonal regrowth were histologically as‐sessed. GFAP immunoreactivity was detected at the bound‐ary area and at the periphery (Figure 4A; hematoxylin‐eosin staining is shown in Additional Figure 2). The severity of glial scar formation was analyzed semi‐quantitatively (Figure 4B). Control animals exhibited a signi ficantly increased amount of and complex patterns of glial scars with prom‐inent bundles of thick astrocytic processes (Figure 4A).Instead, GFAP immunoreactivity was markedly attenuated in the TexasPEG group (P＜ 0.001). Moreover, the thickness and shape of astrocytic processes at the periphery were obvi‐ously different from those at the boundary area.

To measure axonal regrowth at the lesion site, NF200 immuno fluorescence was evaluated in the boundary area of the white matter (hematoxylin‐eosin staining is shown in Additional Figure 2). Only a small number of axon pro files were observed in the control group, whereas a strong immu‐noreactivity was detected in the TexasPEG group (P＜ 0.001)(Figure 4C and D). Moreover, the axon pro files of the con‐trol group showed an incomplete form with an intermediate break (Figure4C). In the TexasPEG group, some of axons were dystrophic with swelling, but the majority showed continuous and linear extended shapes, including multiple branches (Figure 4C).

In vitro assessment results

Neurite growth of SH‐SY5Y cells was assessedin vitro. 3D culture was carried out using matrigel and microchip to investigate the in fluence of three‐dimensional TexasPEG by excluding an interference effect caused by surface adhesion in 2D culture (Figure 5A). Neurites were observed in all cells of each group, and no significant effect was observed on the ratio of neurites expressing cells. Interestingly, Tex‐asPEG‐treated cells were longer in morphology than control cells (P＜ 0.001) and they had multiple prominent neurites(Figure 5B). This is consistent with the axonal regrowth pro file of thein vivoresults.

Discussion

We con firmed previous studies in our group (see introduc‐tion) that a severed spinal cord can be “fused” with behav‐ioral recovery. The TexasPEG group showed a signi ficant re‐covery as compared to the control group after 2 weeks with the maximal recovery at 5 weeks: recovery is attributable to spinal reconstruction at the lesion level. This was con firmed by re‐transection at L1level and attendant loss of locomotor function.

The key to spinal cord fusion is a sharp severance of the cords themselves, with its attendant minimal damage to the cord gray and white matter: a typical force generated by creating a sharp transection is less than 10 N versus approxi‐mately 26,000 N experienced during SCI, a 2600× difference(Canavero, 2015).

Figure 2 The micro fluidic device and experimental scheme of 3D culture.

Figure 3 Locomotor function assessment in each group of animals.

The control group with only the L1lesion reached a BBB score of 3.90 ± 0.53, demonstrating some recovery from a sharp cut at a relatively short follow‐up (5 weeks). The be‐havioral recovery in the present and previous studies can be explained by considering how the spinal cord processes motor programs. About 20 million fibers pass through the spinal cord, with approximately 1 million of descending pyramidal fibers (Canavero, 2015; Canavero et al., 2016). It is generally believed that the long‐range corticospinal (pyra‐midal) fibers are mainly responsible for activating the spinal motor neurons and triggering a motor response (Canavero,2015; Canavero et al., 2016). Actually, animal and human data prove that ～5–20% of these fibers are enough for motor function to unfold (Canavero, 2015; Canavero et al., 2016).This is made possible by the existence of a parallel cellular,gray matter‐based network of interneurons extending from the brainstem to the spinal cord and inputted by fibers from cortical motor areas that simultaneously conveys commands to motoneurons (Canavero, 2015; Canavero et al., 2016).This short‐fiber Cortico‐TruncoReticulo‐ProprioSpinal pathway (CTRPS) embeds and links the Central Pattern Generators located in the cervical and lumbar cord (Canav‐ero, 2015; Canavero et al., 2016).

Such anatomical con figuration explains the action of fu‐sogens. The minimally disruptive severance of the spinal cord damages a very thin layer of these interneurons; the fu‐sogen/sealant reseals their membranes and curbs cell death(Ye et al., 2016). These same cells, along with others in prox‐imity which were not damaged by the extra‐sharp blade,can immediately regrow (sprout) their appendages and reestablish contact between the apposed interfaces. Conse‐quently, the gray matter neuropil is restored by spontaneous regrowth of the severed axons/dendrites over very short dis‐tances at the point of contact between the apposed cords.

Fusogens are applied immediately after severing the spinal cord; no astrocytic scar is thus in place to hinder the process,since a scar only becomes visible after about 1 week of inju‐ry. The astrocytic scar has been shown to promote axon re‐growth in the early stage of SCI; it is only past the subacute stage that the scar slowly becomes nonpermissive (Raposo and Schwartz, 2014; Anderson et al., 2016). However, by the time the scar becomes nonpermissive, fibers will have al‐ready had time to cross the fusion interface and “bridge” the two stumps. In this study, we evaluated the effects of Texas‐PEG on astrocyte‐driven scarring by GFAP analysis. In the control group, a strong astrocytic reaction was visible both at the site of injury and in the border area. In addition, the activity of astrocytes in the TexasPEG group was remarkably attenuated at the border area. In the latter group, GFAP immunoreactivity was weak, highly homogeneous and the astrocytic branches extended evenly throughout. In other words, the scar was apparently dialled down. On NF200(measured in white matter) staining, the axons of neurons in the TexasPEG group branched out extensively; this con firmsin vivothe previously reported graphene‐fostered growth of neurons inin vitroexperiments (Sahni et al., 2013). To confirm this accurately, we evaluated the acceleration of neuronal cell growth by graphene using 3D rather than con‐ventional 2D cell cultures in which only one side is exposed;3D cultures better simulate thein vivoenvironment. Conse‐quently, we demonstrated the efficacy of graphene on neu‐rite growth of SH‐SY5Y cells in the TexasPEG group, using our own 3D culture kit.

Figure 4 Glial scar formation in the gray matter and axonal regrowth in the white matter of the lesion area (immuno fluorescence microscopy).

Figure 5 Neurite growth of SH-SY5Y cells in vitro (contrast microscopy).

An important finding was that maximal BBB scores were only in the 8 range on the BBB scoring sheet at the end of 5 weeks of recovery period. This is much lower than the 18–22 BBB (or modi fied BBB) score range we have previously re‐ported (different animals) applying PEG to cords severed at the C5and T9levels. This is most likely due to poor perfu‐sion below the level of the L1lesion. This was demonstrated by the extensive atrophy of the spinal cord below the lesion site, and such atrophy had not been observed in our prior cervical and T9lesion studies (unpublished observations).Spinal levels C5and T9have both caudal and rostral blood perfusion, whereas the L1level has rostral perfusion only.As the medullary artery (lumbosacral artery) at T11–12is cut with this L1lesioning method, blood flow to the spinal cord will cease caudally to the lesion. The atrophy of the spinal cord distal to the L1lesion is therefore attributed to a lack of blood flow (ischemia). This makes the observed level of recovery even more astounding: TexasPEG appears to be so pro‐regnerative that even under suboptimal conditions it still can foster regrowth and recovery.

In conclusion, we have shown that the paralysis following full severance of the L1spinal cord can be partially reversed by immediate application of a fusogen. By severing the spi‐nal cord without in flicting gross damage, fibers in the TPRS core can sprout rapidly before a scar forms and reconstitute the cellular “bridge” that conveys motor commands. Tex‐asPEG treatment attenuates glial scar formation and fosters profuse axonal grow in the periphery of the spinal lesion.

While transections (e.g., stab wounds) are very rare in man,the importance of this study lies in con firming the feasibility of a SCI cure modeled along the lines envisioned by Freeman.

Author contributions:CYK, JW, RD and SC wrote the manuscript and prepared Figures 2–5.WKAS and JMT made the TexasPEG. JAK and HMC made the 3D micro fluidic chip and prepared Figure 1. CYK and JK did the in vivo and in vitro experiments. AM did statistical analysis.All authors approved the final version of this paper.

Conflicts of interest:The authors did not report any con flicts of interest.

Financial support:This research was supported by a grant from the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Korean government(NRF-2015M3A9C7030091 and NRF-2015R1C1A1A02037047).

Institutional review board statement:The experiment was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Konkuk University (No. KU15135).

Copyright license agreement:The Copyright License Agreement has been signed by all authors before publication.

Data sharing statement:Datasets analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Plagiarism check:Checked twice by iThenticate.

Peer review:Externally peer reviewed.

Open access statement:This is an open access journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix,tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as appropriate credit is given and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.

Open peer reviewer:Gregory Hawryluk, The University of Utah, USA.

Additional files:

Additional file 1:Open peer review report 1.

Additional Figure 1:Stereoscopic iamges of reconnected spinal cord of L1 transection model at 5 weeks after surgury (test samples without re-transection).

Additional Figure 2:Hematoxylin-eosin staining iamges of spinal cord after re-transection (random samples, 5 weeks +1 day).