Modified Methacrylate Hydrogels Improve Tissue Repair after Spinal Cord Injury

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018 · DOI: 10.3390/ijms19092481 · Published: August 22, 2018

Simple Explanation

This study explores the use of modified methacrylate hydrogels to improve tissue repair after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. The researchers implanted three different hydrogels – HPMA, HEMA, and HEMA-Fn – into rats with acute SCI and monitored their functional recovery and tissue infiltration over three months. The main idea is to use these hydrogels as a scaffold to bridge the lesion cavities formed after SCI. The scaffold must have appropriate chemical, physical, and mechanical properties required for cell survival and tissue formation. The study found that both the HPMA and HEMA-Fn hydrogels led to partial sensory improvement compared to the plain HEMA hydrogel. The HPMA scaffold showed increased connective tissue and axonal infiltration, while the HEMA-Fn scaffold showed a tendency towards connective tissue infiltration and higher blood vessel ingrowth.

Study Duration

3 Months

Participants

34 male Wistar rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
HPMA and HEMA-Fn hydrogels lead to partial sensory improvement compared to control animals and animals treated with plain HEMA scaffold.
2
HPMA scaffold showed a significantly increased axonal ingrowth compared to HEMA-Fn and plain HEMA.
3
HEMA-Fn scaffold showed a tendency towards connective tissue infiltration and higher blood vessel ingrowth.

Research Summary

The study evaluated three methacrylate hydrogels (HPMA, HEMA, and HEMA-Fn) as bridging scaffolds in a rat model of acute spinal cord injury (SCI). HPMA and HEMA-Fn hydrogels showed better bridging qualities compared to plain HEMA, resulting in limited partial sensory improvement. HPMA hydrogel showed significantly increased axonal ingrowth compared to HEMA-Fn and plain HEMA, suggesting its potential for promoting nerve regeneration.

Practical Implications

Potential for SCI Therapy

Modified methacrylate hydrogels, particularly HPMA and HEMA-Fn, show promise as scaffolds for tissue repair in spinal cord injury.

Guidance for Scaffold Design

The study highlights the importance of scaffold modification with factors like fibronectin to promote cell adhesion, tissue infiltration, and axonal regeneration.

Future Research Directions

Further research is needed to optimize hydrogel properties and modifications to achieve functionally relevant long-term results in SCI repair.

Study Limitations

1
Spinal cord hemisection is not an ideal model for testing of functional improvement.
2
We did not observe any axons extending across the whole scaffold and crossing the scaffold-tissue border back and re-entering the spinal cord.
3
The attachment of fibronectin improves limited connective tissue and axonal ingrowth, however without any long-term functional improvement.

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