Activating Endogenous Neurogenesis for Spinal Cord Injury Repair: Recent Advances and Future Prospects

After a spinal cord injury (SCI), the body attempts to repair itself by activating neural stem cells. However, these cells often turn into astrocytes instead of neurons, which are needed to relay information through the injury site. New treatments are being explored, such as tissue engineering, stem cell technology, and physiotherapy, to encourage these stem cells to become neurons and promote recovery after SCI. This review focuses on these novel approaches, their mechanisms, and the challenges of using the body's own neurogenesis to repair spinal cord injuries.

• 1
  Biomaterials can be designed to mimic the spinal cord's properties, promote neurogenesis, and improve the microenvironment for nerve regeneration after SCI.
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  Neurotrophic factors, when loaded into biomaterials, can further enhance neurogenesis by attracting neural stem cells, promoting their differentiation into neurons, and forming functional neural networks.
• 3
  Combining different therapeutic strategies, such as biomaterials, stem cells, and physiotherapy, may offer the most effective approach for SCI repair by creating a supportive environment and triggering endogenous neurogenesis.