Conductive and injectable hyaluronic acid/gelatin/gold nanorod hydrogels for enhanced surgical translation and bioprinting

J Biomed Mater Res A, 2022 · DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37294 · Published: February 1, 2022

Simple Explanation

This study addresses the need for improved methods to treat spinal cord injuries (SCI) by combining rehabilitation and regenerative medicine. The researchers created a conductive hydrogel using gold nanorods (GNRs) within a hyaluronic acid and gelatin mixture, aiming for a material that's both conductive and non-toxic. This injectable hydrogel supports neural stem cell adhesion and viability, providing a platform for future combination with electrical stimulation to enhance functional recovery after SCI.

Study Duration

7 days in vitro

Participants

Rat neural stem cells (rNSCs)

Evidence Level

In vitro study

Key Findings

1
The developed hydrogel is conductive, with conductivity increasing with GNR content up to 0.8 mg/ml.
2
The hydrogel precursor possesses an injectable and paste-like consistency, enhancing surgical placement and bioprintability.
3
The citrate-GNRs supported rat neural stem cell adhesion and viability in vitro, demonstrating non-cytotoxicity.

Research Summary

This study successfully developed a conductive hydrogel composed of hyaluronic acid, gelatin, and citrate-capped gold nanorods (GNRs) for potential use in spinal cord injury (SCI) treatment. The hydrogel exhibits appropriate conductivity, is non-cytotoxic to rat neural stem cells (rNSCs) in vitro, and possesses an injectable, paste-like precursor, making it suitable for surgical application and bioprinting. The developed GNR hydrogel serves as a translational biomaterial platform for synergistic combination with electrical stimulation (ES) to improve functional recovery after SCI.

Practical Implications

Enhanced SCI Treatment

The conductive hydrogel can be used in conjunction with electrical stimulation to enhance axon regeneration and reorganization after spinal cord injury.

Improved Surgical Delivery

The injectable and paste-like nature of the hydrogel precursor allows for easier surgical placement in contusion-type SCIs.

Bioprinting Applications

The bioprintable nature of the hydrogel allows for creating 3D scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Study Limitations

1
The conductivity of the GNR hydrogels may be lower due to increased hydrogel swelling.
2
Adhesion of rNSCs to the GNR hydrogels may be partially inhibited by the negatively charged citrate on the GNRs.
3
High GNR concentrations may limit hydrogel crosslinking.

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