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  4. Recent advance in bioactive hydrogels for repairing spinal cord injury: material design, biofunctional regulation, and applications

Recent advance in bioactive hydrogels for repairing spinal cord injury: material design, biofunctional regulation, and applications

Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2023 · DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-01996-y · Published: January 1, 2023

Spinal Cord InjuryBiomedical

Simple Explanation

Functional hydrogels are promising for repairing spinal cord injuries (SCI) due to their chemical, physical, and biological properties. This review focuses on material design and biological regulation of hydrogels to improve SCI repair. Bioactive hydrogels can be made with components like DNA, proteins, peptides, and polysaccharides to achieve cell compatibility, self-healing, and antibacterial activity for SCI repair. Functional regulation of hydrogels with drugs, growth factors, and nanoparticles enhances their effectiveness in treating SCI, bridging materials science and biomedicine for clinical potential.

Study Duration
Not specified
Participants
Not specified
Evidence Level
Level 5, Review

Key Findings

  • 1
    Bioactive hydrogels incorporating biological components such as DNA, proteins, and peptides exhibit unique biological properties beneficial for SCI repair.
  • 2
    Functional regulation of hydrogels with drugs, growth factors, nanoparticles, and other materials can enhance their therapeutic effects on SCI.
  • 3
    The review emphasizes the importance of material design and bioactivity regulation in promoting the application of hydrogels for SCI repair, bridging materials science and biomedicine.

Research Summary

This review presents recent advances in bioactive hydrogels for SCI repair, focusing on material design and functional regulation. It highlights the fabrication of bioactive hydrogels using biological components like DNA, proteins, and polysaccharides. The review discusses methods for tailoring the biological properties of hydrogels, including cell biocompatibility, self-healing, anti-bacterial/anti-inflammatory, and bio-adhesion. It introduces the functional regulation of bioactive hydrogels through the incorporation of drugs, growth factors, nanoparticles, and other materials to enhance their therapeutic effects on SCI.

Practical Implications

Enhanced SCI Repair

Optimal material design and regulation of bioactivity can greatly enhance the effectiveness of hydrogels in repairing SCI.

Bridging Disciplines

This review bridges materials science and biomedicine, promoting the clinical potential of bioactive hydrogels in biomedical fields.

Clinical Translation

By analyzing the functions and properties of bioactive hydrogels, this review could inspire the development of more effective clinical therapies for SCI.

Study Limitations

  • 1
    Bioactivity and biocompatibility of hydrogels in large animals remain uncertain.
  • 2
    High cost and complexity of drug development for SCI hinder clinical translation.
  • 3
    Mechanisms of bioactive hydrogels in SCI repair are not fully understood.

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