A new hydrogel
Scientists have made an incredible discovery that could revolutionize the treatment of spinal cord injuries. A new hydrogel composed of hyaluronic acid, grafted dopamine, and an engineered peptide has shown promise in improving motor function during recovery from spinal cord injuries. spinal in animals.
This innovative hydrogel was developed to transform the inhospitable environment of fibrotic scars into a welcoming place for nerve regeneration. When the spinal cord is injured, a dense scar normally forms that prevents nerve regeneration. However, the hydrogel alters this dynamic allowing tissue repair-promoting cells to infiltrate and assist in nerve healing.
Regeneration mechanism.
The researchers discovered that the hydrogel manipulates cell infiltration and a parallel pattern by transforming dense scars into an aligned fibrous substrate, this guides axonal regrowth by promoting the survival of interneurons at the edges of the lesion that serve as relays to establish specific axonal connections to the aim.
Tests carried out.
Rat models with complete spinal cord transplantation that received hydrogel treatment showed improvement in locomotion, sensory activity, and bladder function; dogs with hemisectioned lesions showed similar improvements in motor function.
Scientists are optimistic about the future applications of this hydrogel in the treatment of other injuries and diseases of the central nervous system, this discovery may inspire new approaches for the repair of spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions offering hope for thousands of people suffering from spinal cord injuries.
This research was published in the journal Science defenses and promises to open new frontiers in regenerative medicine. If you want to read the full article, the link is in the reference.
