Natural polymer based drug-loaded hydrogel platform for comprehensive care of acute spinal cord injury

Materials Today Bio, 2025 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtbio.2025.101464 · Published: January 7, 2025

Spinal Cord Injury Pharmacology Biomedical

Simple Explanation

This study introduces a new injectable hydrogel, called OPDL gel, designed to treat spinal cord injuries and care for wounds after surgery. The hydrogel contains dexamethasone, a drug that reduces inflammation, and a special polymer that can absorb harmful substances that build up at the injury site. The OPDL gel is designed to release dexamethasone in a controlled way, responding to the specific conditions around the spinal cord injury, like increased acidity and certain harmful molecules. This helps to reduce inflammation and protect the nerve tissues. In tests, the OPDL gel showed good compatibility with body tissues, effectively killed bacteria, and helped wounds heal as well as a commercial product. This suggests it could be a useful tool for treating spinal cord injuries and preventing infections.

Study Duration

8 Weeks

Participants

Female Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 6–8 weeks, and Female mice weighing 35–40 g

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The OPDL gel demonstrated excellent injectability and self-healing properties, allowing its precise application at the site of spinal cord injury by using a syringe for effective care delivery.
2
In animal models of acute spinal cord injury, application of OPLD gel significantly accelerated wound healing without any observable abnormalities in vital organs or hematological parameters.
3
OPDL gel exhibits tremendous potential as an integrated material for spinal cord injury care because it promotes full thickness wound healing, and also effectively prevented wound infection.

Research Summary

The study developed an injectable hydrogel (OPDL gel) for treating spinal cord injuries and providing wound care. The hydrogel encapsulates dexamethasone (Dex) and responds to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pH changes for controlled drug release. OPDL gel also exhibited excellent bactericidal properties, achieving a 100 % kill rate against microorganisms within 80 min and providing wound healing care comparable to a commercial product, Tegaderm™. In animal models, the OPLD gel significantly accelerated wound healing without causing abnormalities in vital organs. The study concludes that this multifunctional hydrogel represents a novel approach for integrated treatment strategies in spinal cord injuries.

Practical Implications

Integrated Treatment Strategy

The multifunctional hydrogel drug-loading platform represents a novel approach for integrated treatment strategies in the clinical setting to address spinal cord injuries.

Reduced Secondary Injury

By intelligently releasing dexamethasone in response to excessive pH and ROS levels, the hydrogel effectively alleviates secondary injuries, such as edema, following acute injury.

Improved Wound Healing

The OPLD gel promotes full thickness wound healing and effectively prevents wound infection, offering valuable support for postoperative wound care.

Study Limitations

1
The study is limited by its reliance on animal models; further research is needed to determine its efficacy and safety in humans.
2
The degradation period of the hydrogel is limited to 60 hours.
3
Long-term effects and potential complications of the hydrogel are not fully explored in this study.

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