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  4. Research progress of hydrogels as delivery systems and scaffolds in the treatment of secondary spinal cord injury

Research progress of hydrogels as delivery systems and scaffolds in the treatment of secondary spinal cord injury

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2023 · DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1111882 · Published: January 18, 2023

Spinal Cord InjuryBiomedical

Simple Explanation

Secondary spinal cord injury (SSCI) involves several complex biological processes. Bioactive additives like drugs and cells are used to help. Hydrogels are promising materials for delivering these additives directly to the injury site. Hydrogels can act as scaffolds, encouraging nerve cells to grow in the right direction. They can also be modified to have new functions. This review discusses different hydrogel delivery systems and their modifications for treating SSCI. Hydrogels are biological materials similar to “jelly,” which can easily load drugs, cells, or other bioactive substances. When hydrogels are transplanted into the site of SCI, these bioactive materials perform their corresponding biological functions. When hydrogels are transplanted into the site of SCI, these bioactive materials perform their corresponding biological functions.

Study Duration
Not specified
Participants
Not specified
Evidence Level
Review

Key Findings

  • 1
    Natural hydrogels, including proteins, polysaccharides, and acellular matrices, have inherent biocompatibility and bioactivity suitable for biomedical applications.
  • 2
    Synthetic hydrogels can be easily modified and exhibit slow degradation, offering excellent durability. These are fabricated from polymers like PVA, PCL, PLGA, PEG, and acrylic acids.
  • 3
    Functionalized hydrogels with directional arrangement, electrical conductivity, cell affinity, injectability, and antioxidant capacity can enhance therapeutic effects on SSCI.

Research Summary

This review summarizes the current state of hydrogel delivery systems for SSCI treatment. It discusses functional modifications for better therapeutic effects. Hydrogels can be divided into natural and synthetic types, each with different characteristics and functions. They can be modified to acquire new functions, enhancing their ability as scaffolds and delivery systems. Emerging hydrogel preparation techniques like 3D printing and electrospinning offer faster synthesis efficiency and more regular internal structures, further improving their potential in SSCI treatment.

Practical Implications

Drug Delivery

Hydrogels enable localized and sustained delivery of drugs, cytokines, and stem cells to the injury site, improving therapeutic efficacy.

Scaffold Support

Hydrogels provide a structural matrix for cell growth and axon regeneration, facilitating tissue repair and functional recovery.

Microenvironment Modulation

Functionalized hydrogels can modulate the injury microenvironment by reducing inflammation, promoting angiogenesis, and guiding cell differentiation.

Study Limitations

  • 1
    Variations in structure, degradation, and mechanical strength among natural hydrogels.
  • 2
    Potential long-term biocompatibility issues with synthetic hydrogels.
  • 3
    Complexity in synthesizing hydrogels using multiple raw materials.

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