Spinal cord regeneration – scientists have a new way

Spinal cord regeneration - scientists have a new way

The regenerative possibilities of our body are not at the highest level. Some species on our planet are able to regenerate a lost limb or even a head. With us, the matter is much, much worse. One of our worst deficiencies is certainly the very limited regenerative capacity of the spinal cord.

Spinal cord injuries very often lead to the loss of connections between the brain and the rest of our body, which of course leads to complete or partial paralysis. According to data from the World Health Organization, from 250,000 people come to our planet every year. up to 500 thousand new, to some extent paralyzed people as a result of sustained spinal cord injury (SCI).

Also read: The severed spinal cord was reconstructed in rats

If we could develop an effective method that would allow for the comprehensive regeneration of nerve connections in our spine, millions of people would return to being able-bodied.

Spinal cord regeneration is a very important topic of our research

– Currently, regenerating damaged neurons in the spinal cord is a real challenge. Only a few types of neurons in our core are able to regenerate. And to a very limited extent. Moreover, the required length of a new connection between neurons can be even a few millimeters, and such a connection can be affected by scar tissue that hinders growth. That’s why we found that a special platform could help in creating such connections, which will help neurons fill the gaps between lost connections, says Professor Marco Terenzio of the Japan Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) in Okinawa.

Work on this type of platform, which serves as a kind of scaffolding, on which new connections between neurons climb, have been going on for several years. In 2018, for example, we saw a very promising project that consisted of a silicone scaffold covered with a layer of stem cells that assisted core regeneration. We also had a two-part project that combined a neuron ladder with gene therapy to help regenerate nerve connections, which turned out to be very effective, at least when tested in laboratory mice.

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The Terenzio team from OIST decided to focus on the very aspect of neuron growth and the possibility of directing this process. For this purpose, they developed a special matrix, made in the process of two-photon lithography. This process involves the use of photosensitive polymers, hardened with laser light so precisely that the holes in the scaffold fired in this way are so small that they are able not only to support the growth of connections between neurons, but also to direct it in the right direction.

The scaffolding made in this way by the Terenzio team turned out to have very good properties – both mechanically and thermally, it turned out to be very stable and also biocompatible with nerve cells. In laboratory tests, it was possible to grow mouse neurons responsible for the connection between the brain and muscles.

“We found that neurons were able to penetrate all layers of the scaffold, which was very exciting. The next step will be in vivo experiments in mice, says Terenzio

Further research will be aimed at testing various materials from which this type of matrix could be produced. The Terenzio team also wants to see if their design can be used to treat other types of injuries. The biggest problem, however, will be finding a way to lower the production costs of their matrices – which is currently described by members of the Terenzio team as “impossibly expensive”.

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“The technology is still very underdeveloped, but we hope to improve its efficiency and lower production costs over time,” he says. Terenzio.

We should remember that this is still a very early stage of research. If the technology developed by OIST scientists proves to be equally effective at regenerating human cells, work on it will surely accelerate. For now, however, the Terenzio team has to deal with issues that are typical of early research phases.


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