The combined application of stem cells and three-dimensional bioprinting scaffolds for the repair of spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe condition with limited repair options. Traditional treatments focus on alleviating secondary injuries but do not regenerate the spinal cord. Stem cell therapy and three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting are emerging as potential treatments to promote functional repair after SCI. Stem cells have regenerative properties, including self-renewal and directed differentiation, that can help repair damaged tissue. 3D bioprinting allows the creation of scaffolds that mimic the structure of living tissues, providing a supportive platform for stem cells to grow and regenerate damaged neural circuits. Combining stem cell therapy with 3D bioprinting scaffolds may promote stem cell survival, reduce cell loss, and encourage neural reattachment. This combined approach could bridge the broken ends of an injury, promote axonal regeneration, and create a microenvironment suitable for spinal cord repair.

• 1
  Stem cell therapy has the potential to repair damaged tissue in the spinal cord and promote the restoration of normal functionality in the nervous system due to their regenerative properties.
• 2
  3D bioprinting allows for a "personalized" manufacturing solution, which allows the shape of the scaffold to be tailored to the specific characteristics of each SCI site, thus achieving maximum natural fidelity
• 3
  Combined transplantation of 3D bioprinting scaffolds and stem cells is the most effective treatment for SCI, allowing for more accurate and effective alignment of functional cells to create precisely controlled neural tissue structures.