Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been reported a great therapeutic potential for
acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the therapeutic benefits are limited due to the low retention and survival of transplanted cells within target sites. In this study, thermosensitive
chitosan chloride (
CSCl)
hydrogel was explored as
injectable scaffold for adipose-derived MSCs (ADMSCs) delivery into
ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) induced
acute kidney injury (AKI). Thermosensitive
CSCl hydrogels with/without ADMSCs were injected into the I/R site of rat AKI models.
Dihydroethidium staining was used to detect the number of ROS in vivo. In order to track ADMSCs in vivo, ADMSCs were transfected with
firefly luciferase and monomeric
red fluorescent protein reporter genes (fluc-mrfp). The retention and survival of ADMSC were assessed using bioluminescence imaging, differentiation behaviors of ADMSCs were investigated using immunofluorescent and immunohistochemical staining. Proliferation and apoptosis of host renal cell in vivo were characterized by
PCNA and TUNEL staining. Results suggested that
CSCl hydrogels could improve the retention and survival of grafted ADMSCs, moreover,
CSCl hydrogels could enhance the proliferation activity and reduce apoptosis of host renal cells. At 4 weeks, significant improvement of the renal function, microvessel density and tubular cell proliferation were observed in
CSCl hydrogels with ADMSCs groups. Therefore, the application of thermosensitive
CSCl hydrogel as scaffold for ADMSCs delivery into renal region could resolve the main obstacle of
cell transplantation for
acute kidney injury (AKI). Therefore,
CSCl hydrogel is a potential cell carrier for treatment of AKI.