Biomaterial Scaffolds in Regenerative Therapy of the Central Nervous System

The central nervous system (CNS) is critical for regulating organ functions, and injuries can lead to long-term disability. Current treatments are inadequate, but biomaterial scaffolds show promise in CNS regeneration. Biomaterial scaffolds, particularly hydrogels and biodegradable scaffolds, support cell infiltration and proliferation. They can be used alone or with cell therapies to repair CNS injuries. This review discusses the categories and progress of biomaterial scaffolds used in CNS regeneration, highlighting their potential to repair tissue and restore function.

• 1
  Biomaterial scaffolds can mimic the native extracellular matrix (ECM), providing specific microenvironmental cues to enhance cell survival, infiltration, and differentiation in CNS regeneration.
• 2
  Hydrogels and biodegradable scaffolds are the two main categories of biomaterial scaffolds used in CNS regeneration. Hydrogels have high water content and porous structures, while biodegradable scaffolds offer tunable mechanical properties and degradation rates.
• 3
  Combining biomaterial scaffolds with cell therapy can promote cell survival and differentiation, reduce inflammation, and improve functional recovery in both spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) models.