Injectable hydrogels in central nervous system: Unique and novel platforms for promoting extracellular matrix remodeling and tissue engineering

The review discusses the pathophysiology of CNS and the use of several kinds of injectable hydrogels for brain and spinal cord tissue engineering, paying particular emphasis to recent experimental studies. Injectable hydrogels are being researched as therapeutic agents because they may imitate numerous properties of CNS tissues and hence reduce subsequent injury and regenerate neural tissue. Because of their less adverse effects and cost, easier use and implantation with less pain, and faster regeneration capacity, injectable hydrogels, are more desirable than non-injectable hydrogels.

• 1
  Hydrogel has a biomimetic structure similar to extracellular matrix, hence has been considered a 3D scaffold for CNS regeneration.
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  Injectable hydrogels can be injected into target areas with little invasiveness and imitate several aspects of CNS.
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  This review will discuss the pathophysiology of the CNS and the production of hydrogels for CNS restoration, with a concentration on the freshest and most sophisticated methods for CNS tissue engineering using injectable hydrogels.