An injectable hydrogel enhances tissue repair after spinal cord injury by promoting extracellular matrix remodeling

Following spinal cord injuries, fluid-filled cysts can form, hindering tissue repair. This study introduces an injectable hydrogel, I-5, designed to address this issue by eliminating cystic cavities. The hydrogel works by promoting the formation of a fibronectin-rich extracellular matrix (ECM) that bridges the cavities. This remodeling is facilitated by macrophages, which express matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). The I-5 hydrogel also improves coordinated movement and protects nerve fibers. This suggests the hydrogel's ability to interact with inflammatory cells and promote ECM remodeling can aid tissue repair after CNS injuries.

• 1
  I-5 hydrogel injection almost completely eliminates cystic cavities in a rat spinal cord injury model.
• 2
  The hydrogel promotes extracellular matrix remodeling, mediated by matrix metalloproteinase-9 expressed in macrophages.
• 3
  I-5 injection improves coordinated locomotion, preserves myelinated white matter and motor neurons, and increases axonal reinnervation.