Controlled release of neurotrophin-3 from fibrin-based tissue engineering scaffolds enhances neural fiber sprouting following subacute spinal cord injury

This study explores if using fibrin scaffolds to slowly release a protein called neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) can help nerve fibers grow after a spinal cord injury. Rats with spinal cord injuries received these scaffolds, and the researchers looked at nerve fiber growth, scar tissue formation, and immune responses. The results showed that a specific amount of NT-3 released from the scaffolds improved nerve fiber growth compared to using the scaffold alone.

• 1
  The addition of 500 ng/ mL of NT-3 with the delivery system resulted in an increase in neural fiber density compared to fibrin alone.
• 2
  Those groups treated with fibrin scaffolds had a significant decrease in the density of GFAP staining surrounding the lesion site when compared to untreated controls at 2 weeks.
• 3
  In all experimental groups, ED-1 positive cells accumulated at the lesion border. There was no statistical difference between untreated controls and all other experimental groups, indicating that the treatment does not induce an increase in immune response following injury.