Demonstration of therapeutic effect of plasma-synthesized polypyrrole/iodine biopolymer in rhesus monkey with complete spinal cord section

Spinal cord injury can lead to paralysis, and treatments that work in mice often don't work in humans. This study tested a new treatment, a biopolymer made of polypyrrole and iodine (PPy/I), in monkeys with spinal cord injury to see if it could help. The monkeys were divided into two groups: one received the PPy/I treatment, and the other did not. The researchers then measured inflammation, nerve tissue preservation, nerve regeneration, and functional recovery in both groups. The monkeys treated with PPy/I showed less inflammation, better nerve tissue preservation, more nerve regeneration, and improved motor function compared to the untreated monkeys, suggesting the treatment may be promising for humans with spinal cord injuries.

• 1
  Plasma-synthesized PPy/I reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the experimental NHP compared to the control NHP after spinal cord transection.
• 2
  The experimental NHP, treated with PPy/I, showed better preservation of nerve tissue and a thinner glial scar at the injured spinal cord compared to the control NHP.
• 3
  The experimental NHP recovered knee-jerk, withdrawal, and plantar reflexes, as well as some movement in the hind limbs, while the control NHP showed limited recovery.