Biomaterials, 2020 · DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.119978 · Published: July 1, 2020
A spinal cord injury often leads to permanent nerve tissue loss because the body's natural repair processes are insufficient. This study explores a new injectable material, a nanofiber-hydrogel composite (NHC), designed to provide support and promote nerve tissue regeneration at the injury site. The NHC material is engineered to have both strength and porosity, mimicking the natural environment of nerve tissue. Researchers tested the NHC in a rat model of spinal cord injury to see how it affected tissue repair and regeneration. Results showed that the NHC helped maintain the width of the injured spinal cord, encouraged the growth of new blood vessels and nerve cells, and shifted the immune response to a more regenerative state. These findings suggest that NHC has potential as a treatment for spinal cord injuries by supporting tissue repair without the need for additional growth factors or cells.
NHC shows promise as a therapeutic intervention for spinal cord injuries by promoting tissue repair and regeneration without the need for additional growth factors or cells.
The composite's ability to limit spinal cord collapse, promote angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and axon growth suggests its potential to enhance tissue repair in other types of injuries as well.
NHC can be potentially used as a transplant medium for repair-supporting cells such as mesenchymal stromal cells or Schwann cells to maximize repair effects.