Biomedical Research

KEY FINDING: Fibrin scaffolds significantly increased neural fiber staining in the lesion site at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment compared to untreated controls.

KEY FINDING: Biodegradable scaffolds seeded with NSCs or SCs facilitate regeneration across the transected spinal cord.

KEY FINDING: Multiple channel bridges support cellular infiltration, creating a permissive environment for neural fiber growth.

KEY FINDING: Scaffolds with 450-μm channels had significantly more axon fibers per channel than 660-μm scaffolds at 1 and 3 months post-implantation.

KEY FINDING: The addition of 500 ng/ mL of NT-3 with the delivery system resulted in an increase in neural fiber density compared to fibrin alone.

KEY FINDING: Nerve guidance channels prevent fibrous scar tissue ingrowth, concentrate neurotrophic molecules, and direct growth from the proximal to the distal nerve stump.

KEY FINDING: Axonal growth is supported by inherent properties of the selected polymer, the architecture of the scaffold, permissive microstructures such as pores, grooves or polymer fibres, and surface modifications to provide improved adherence and growth directionality.

KEY FINDING: Trehalose significantly enhances the thermal stability of chABC, allowing it to remain active at 37 °C for up to 4 weeks in vitro.

KEY FINDING: Water-dispersible carbon nanotubes can modulate neurite outgrowth in culture and aid regeneration after spinal cord injury in vivo.

KEY FINDING: Peptide amphiphiles can be designed to self-assemble into nanofibers with specific bioactivity and mechanical properties.