Research Progress on Biomaterials for Spinal Cord Repair

International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2025 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S501121 · Published: February 11, 2025

Spinal Cord Injury Regenerative Medicine Biomedical

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a very destructive disease of the central nervous system that often causes irreversible nerve damage. Biomaterials are highly biocompatible, and they could provide physical guidance to allow regenerating axon growth over the lesion site and restore functional neural circuits. Tissue engineering scaffolds regulate the local microenvironment of the injured spinal cord, which may achieve better functional recovery in spinal cord injury repair.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Review

Key Findings

1
Biomaterial scaffolds can be used for drug delivery, cell load, and tissue engineering to facilitate the repair of SCIs, while acting as a scaffold and microenvironment for tissue growth with reduced inflammatory responses.
2
Natural biological materials are easily obtained and have good biocompatibility and degradability, with strong biological activity in vivo and minimal immune responses.
3
Synthetic biomaterials have controlled physical and chemical properties and degradation rate, which can meet different application needs.

Research Summary

This review summarizes the current research status of the application of biomaterials to the SCI treatment, in recent years, to provide some comprehensive information and reference value for future exploration of new SCI repair strategies. To promote the neural circuits remodeling to achieve functional recovery is the goal of SCI treatment. The ideal biomaterials should have properties to include activating the intrinsic growth capacity of neurons, creating a favorable local environment conducive to nerve regeneration and axon growth.

Practical Implications

Drug Delivery Systems

Biomaterials can be engineered to deliver therapeutic drugs directly to the site of spinal cord injury, enhancing their effectiveness and reducing systemic side effects.

Cellular Therapies

Biomaterial scaffolds can provide a supportive microenvironment for transplanted cells, promoting their survival, differentiation, and integration into the injured spinal cord.

Axon Guidance and Regeneration

Biomaterials can be designed to provide physical cues that guide regenerating axons across the lesion site, facilitating the reestablishment of neural circuits.

Study Limitations

1
The detailed molecular mechanisms of SCI treatment by different biomaterials must be elucidated.
2
Treatments method must be optimized regarding duration and implantation method, timing, and location, while also considering biocompatibility, degradability, mechanical strength, and toxicity.
3
Future research should prioritize enhancing the degradation resistance of biomaterials and their ability to positively interact with the host biological environment.

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