Therapeutic targets and nanomaterial-based therapies for mitigation of secondary injury after spinal cord injury

Nanomedicine (Lond.), 2021 · DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2021-0113 · Published: August 17, 2021

Spinal Cord Injury Pharmacology Biomedical

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to neurological problems, and while there's not much that can be done about the initial injury, treatments targeting the subsequent damage, called secondary SCI, are promising. Secondary SCI involves changes in blood vessels, inflammation, and oxidative stress around the injury site. Nanomaterials offer a way to deliver drugs to address these issues and improve recovery. This review focuses on how nanomaterials can be used to deliver therapies that protect the blood-spinal cord barrier, reduce inflammation, and alleviate oxidative stress after a spinal cord injury.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Animal models (rats, mice, guinea pigs, dogs)

Evidence Level

Review

Key Findings

1
Nanomaterials can be used to deliver drugs that protect the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB), reducing permeability and preventing immune cell infiltration after SCI.
2
Nanocarriers can deliver anti-inflammatory drugs like methylprednisolone (MP) locally to the injured spinal cord, reducing side effects associated with systemic administration.
3
Nanoparticle delivery systems can reduce oxidative stress and tissue damage by scavenging free radicals and restoring membrane integrity after SCI.

Research Summary

Secondary injury after SCI offers a therapeutic window for pharmacological treatments to prevent progressive tissue damage and improve functional outcomes. Nanomaterial-based therapeutic strategies show potential for reducing secondary injury in preclinical SCI animal models. Continued improvement in nanomaterial-based delivery systems is expected, enhancing combinatorial therapies by delivering multiple therapeutics to treat complex SCI pathologies.

Practical Implications

Targeted Drug Delivery

Nanomaterials enable precise delivery of therapeutics to the injury site, minimizing systemic side effects and maximizing efficacy.

Combination Therapies

Nanomaterial-based delivery systems can be designed to deliver multiple drugs simultaneously, addressing the complex pathophysiology of secondary SCI.

Personalized Medicine

Nanomaterials can be tailored to target specific cell types and pathways involved in secondary SCI, enabling personalized treatment strategies.

Study Limitations

1
Differences in anatomy, physiology, pathology, and function between experimental animal models and humans.
2
Limited standardization among SCI injury models and outcome measures.
3
Challenges with reproducibility of preclinical results.

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