Treatment of spinal cord injury with biomaterials and stem cell therapy in non-human primates and humans

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to loss of sensory, motor, and autonomic functions, often resulting in permanent disability. Current treatments are not fully effective, so researchers are exploring biological strategies like biomaterials, tissue engineering, and stem cell therapy to promote neuronal recovery. These strategies are tested in animal models, particularly rodents, but there's a growing need to assess their safety and efficacy in non-human primates (NHPs) before human clinical trials. NHPs share more anatomical similarities with humans, making them better models for predicting treatment outcomes. This review examines therapeutic advances in NHPs and humans, focusing on biomaterials and stem cell therapy for SCI. The goal is to identify the advantages of these strategies and their potential for clinical application in humans, aiming to improve neuronal repair and functional recovery.

• 1
  Stem cell-based transplantation shows promise due to direct tissue replacement, neuroprotection, and support for axonal regrowth and neuronal plasticity.
• 2
  Studies using scaffolds made of biopolymers, especially chitosan, have demonstrated effectiveness in nerve regeneration in NHPs, showing potential for human application.
• 3
  The use of 3D printing technology to create scaffolds loaded with human mesenchymal stem cells has shown promise in promoting tissue remodeling and functional recovery in NHP models of SCI.